Detection of phytochemical compounds and pigments in seeds and shoots of Cuscuta campestris parasitizing on eggplant

Abstract

This study aimed to detect the chemical compounds contained in Cuscuta campestris seeds and shoot parts using the GC-MS following methanol extraction method, and also determining protein, total phenolic, total soluble carbohydrates, plant hormones and pigments for both seeds and shoot (flower and filament). The GC-MS analysis results showed six compounds are common between seed and shoot and the presence of different compounds in different plant parts including 24 compounds in seeds and 9 compounds in the shoot parts. The content of protein and carbohydrate in shoot (1.095% and 22.640 mg g -1 respectively) were higher than in seeds and the total phenols content in seeds (11.094 mg g -1 ) was greatest than in shoot. In addition, there were differences between seeds and filaments parts in terms of concentration of pigments and free plant hormones, filaments were superior in total chlorophyll and carotene content (5.37 mg 100 g -1 and 13.26 mg 100 g -1 respectively). In seeds, ABA content was very high reaching 93.38 lM compared to other hormones, which had an effect on the seed dormancy of C. campestris.

The Effect of a Host on the Primary Metabolic Profiling of Cuscuta Campestris’ Main Organs, Haustoria, Stem and Flower

“…The high level of metabolites in the flowers might affect the levels of metabolites in the seeds. However, it was previously shown in C. campestris that the seeds had lower levels of carbohydrates and proteins compared to the stems [17]. The high levels of aromatic amino acids in flowers do not link with the observation that this organ has the lowest total phenol content.…”

“…The main aim of the current study was to determine the effect of three different hosts on the primary metabolic profile of three main organs of C. campestris (haustoria, stem and flowers). The leading assumption was that C. campestris, similar to all other holoparasite plants such as different species of Phelipanche, Orobanchae, Conopholis and Epifagus [4], relies on their hosts for carbohydrates, minerals and water to complete their life cycle [4,17,19]. Still, there is little knowledge about the question of how much of the C. campestris' metabolism relies on its hosts for the other primary metabolites.…”

“…Do the parasitic plants transport only the metabolites required for their growth? The answer is yet unknown, but it was previously suggested that C. campestris and C. japonica had no selective absorption of specific compounds from the host [17,26]. Furthermore, an additional study detected secondary metabolites in C. reflexa grown on two different plant species, showing that specific compounds that are synthesized in each host were present in the parasite [27].…”

“…Such an analysis could also be proposed for putative biochemical pathways and provide more data on the metabolism and physiological processes [15]. Metabolomics techniques have rarely been applied to parasite plant research and focus mainly on secondary metabolites (e.g., [1,4,17]).…”

Phytochemical Investigation of Cuscuta campestris Yunck. Stem Extract and Evaluation of Its Bioherbicidal Effect on Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Portulaca oleracea L

“…has attracted research interest for its various medicinal properties such as anticancer, antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative, antioxidant, hepato‐protective activity, etc. Phytochemical screening of the genus Cuscuta ( C. chinensis , C. reflexa , C. epithymum , C. europea ) has revealed a considerable amount of phenolics, including flavonoids, flavonols, phenolic acids, alkaloids, steroids, as well as volatile oils [23–26] . Compared to the mentioned species that have been largely investigated, C. campestris is still insufficiently studied.…”