Planta Med 2013; 79 - PN20
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352364

Enzymatic activity and physiological status affect essential oils and polyphenolics production in Artemisia alba tissue cultures

Y Markovska 1, Y Raynova 2, K Idakieva 2, M Todorova 2, E Wolfram 3, K Danova 2
  • 1Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia Bulgaria
  • 2Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 3Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology, Wädenswil, Switzerland

In previous research ofArtemisia alba Turra, we reported that stimulation of root developmentin vitro was related to domination of monoterpenoids, while callus formation and rooting inhibition led to the prevalence of sesquiterpenoids in the essential oils of the aerial parts [1]. Interestingly, these two essential oil types correlated to the results of other authors concerning the oils of contrasting wild accessions of this species [2]. Here, we study the biochemical parameters ofA. alba response to exogenous indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and benzyl adenine (BA) treatmentin vitro.

The aerials of plants with a well developed root system (monoterpenoid domination in the oils in PGR-lacking control, as well as in IBA rooting stimulated media) were characterized by elevated CAT (EC 1.11.1.6), APX (EC 1.11.1.11) and GPOX (EC 1.11.1.7) levels, as compared with aerials of the plants from the “sesquiterpenoid group” (where combinations of IBA and BA led to suppressed rooting and callusogenesis). Interestingly, the plants from the “intermediate oil type” (bearing the terpenoid features of both root and callus forming plants) were characterized by a considerable drop of PAL (EC 4.3.1.24), CAT and GR (EC 1.8.1.7) and a drop of polyphenolics leading to marked elevation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stressin vitro. In addition, electrophoretic profiles indicated differing enzymatic activities for the aerial, root and callus tissue samples. Modification of the essential oil profile through affecting morphological development in vitro will further be utilized for the targeted delivery of plant biomass with desired properties.

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation in the framework of the Bulgarian-Swiss Research Programme (BSRP, grant No. IZEBZ0_142989; DO2 – 1153)

References:

[1] Danova K et al. (2012) Natural Product Communications 7: 1 – 2.

[2] Radulović N, Blagojević P. (2010) Natural Product Communications, 5, 1117 – 1122