Growing Environment and Nutrient Availability Affect the Content of Some Phenolic Compounds in Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia

Abstract

Medicinal plant production is different from other agricultural production systems in that the plants are grown for the production of specific phytochemical(s) for human use. To address this need, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant, controlled-environment production system was developed for production of Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia. Within the prototype facility, the growing systems, nutrient availability, water and physical environment were highly controlled. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of different hydroponic systems, nutrient solution NO₃ ^-/NH₄ ⁺ ratios and mild water stress on the content of some phenolic compounds in Echinacea plants. The deep-flow solution culture system in which the plant roots were continuously immersed in the nutrient solutions was optimum for the growth of E. purpurea. Higher concentrations of caftaric acid, cynarin and echinacoside were produced in E. angustifolia plants grown in the soil-based growing media while the plants grown in the deep-flow solution system had higher levels of cichoric acid. Altering the NO₃ ^-/NH₄ ⁺ ratio or limited water stress did not have any significant effect on the phytochemical content of Echinacea plants. Echinacea plants grown in the controlled environment systems had higher or similar amounts of cynarin, caftaric acid, echinacoside and cichoric acid as previously reported in the literature for both field-cultivated and wild-harvested Echinacea plants. This growing system offers the advantages of year-round crop production with minimal contamination by environmental pollutants and common microbes.

Abbreviations

D:deep-flow solution culture

P:hydroponic production system with pots containing Pro-Mix

S:hydroponic production system with pots containing sand

S:periodic water stress

W:well-watered

Key words

Echinacea purpurea - Echinacea angustifolia - Asteraceae - secondary metabolism - phytochemical variation - hydroponics - controlled environment systems

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