Investigation of ontioxidant effect turmeric in comparing with active coal and ascorbic acid in cultural medium of Ulmas pavrifolia Jasq. Callus.

Turmeric (cucurma longa) has been used as an antioxidant agent in medical as well as health sciences some years ago. However, it has not been applied in tissue culture till now. Browning tissues is result of tissue damages caused by polyphenoloxidase enzyme. In order to study this problem and reduce browning, explants are cultured in culture media containing antioxidants including citric acid, ascorbic acid 1,4 dithiotheritol, mercapto ethanol. In this study turmeric (cucurma longa) is used as an antioxidant. In order to investigate the antixidantal characteristics of turmeric, an experiment has been undertaken on elm browning callus, comprising comparison of turmeric with two standard antioxidants, active coal and ascorbic acid. Initial callus divided and sub-cultured in MS medium containing 25% coconut milk and 0.8% agar. Treatments were active coal, turmeric and ascorbic acid in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% respectively. Totally 9 treatments were used. Statistical analysis of data at 95% confidence level showed that increasing of callus growth was significant in treatments, containing ascorbic acid with concentration of 1% and turmeric with concentration of 0.1%. Medium containing active coal with concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and turmeric 0.5% concentration showed significant decrease of browning in comparison with other treatments.