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The biosynthesis of silymarin, a potent antihepatotoxic compound, from the dried fruits of Silybum marianum L. Gaertn in hairy root cultures can be stimulated by a yeast extract elicitor. These results correlated with culture time, and the biosynthesis reached a maximum of 0.47 mg g -1 DW by 72 h after culture (2-fold higher than the control). Lipoxygenase activity and linoleic acid content were stimulated by this treatment, suggesting that the jasmonate pathway may mediate the elicitor-induced accumulation of silymarin. The H 2 O 2 content increased 24 h after elicitation and did not have marked changes between 48 and 72 h. In addition, the tocopherol content (especially a-and d-tocopherols) increased 72 h after elicitation in comparison with non-treated cultures. Ascorbate had trace changes during feeding time and was lower than the control. The antioxidant activity was assayed by the 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical method and results were calculated base on an IC 50 that increased upon treatment, especially 24 h after treatment, with changes related to H 2 O 2 content. These observations suggested that reactive oxygen species may mediate elicitor signals to the jasmonate pathway that lead to the production of silymarin.

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