Journal of Plant Process and Function

Ephedra intermedia (Schrenket) is a medicinal plant belong to family Ephedraceae from Gnetales, order of gymnosperms. Shoot explants of E. intermedia were cultured in MS medium with some treatments of auxin (indole acetic acid=IAA) include 2.5, 5, 10 and 15mgl^-1 supplemented with Kinetin (Kin) include 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mgl^-1. The powder of E. intermedia dry organs and in vitro auxin and Kinetin treatmented explants were used for alkaloid and phenol extraction and antioxidant activity tests. The explants of in vitro culture formed callus and shoots after 3 month. Both hormones induced callus formatin, but they hadn’t interaction effects. Kinetin was better than IAA for shoots formation. High concentration of IAA increased alkaloid content of explants and Kin stimulated increasing that’s. . Phenol content and antioxidant activity of the explants were treated by 2.5 mgl^-1 IAA with all concentrations of kinetin were higher than others treatments but in red callus of  5 mgl^-1 IAA with 20 mgl^-1 Kin treatment was highest from all. Alkaloid in root and seeds, phenols and antioxidant activity in fruits and shoots were highest. Results of present study showed organs of E. intermedia are contain much alkaloid, phenol and antioxidant activity. IAA and Kin affected on callus induction, shoots formation, alkaloid and phenol content and antioxidant activity of E. intermedia explants were similar to other species of Ephedra genus.