Effects of cobalt nanoparticles on artemisinin production and gene expression in Artemisia annua

Abstract

The low artemisinin content in Artemisia has caused this compound to be expensive among medicines. Several attempts have been made to increase its production by altering the expression of different genes. However, no approach has been cost-effective. In this study, the expression levels of SQS and DBR2 genes were quantified by qRT-PCR, and artemisinin content was measured by HPLC in Artemisia annua cell suspension culture under nano cobalt particles elicitation. For this purpose, nano cobalt particles were used in 0.25, 2.5, and 5 mg L -1 concentrations and samples were collected after 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. The highest artemisinin content was observed 24 h after 5 mg L -1 nano cobalt treatment. In this case, artemisinin production was 2.25-fold (113.35 mg g -1 dw) higher than that of the control. Simultaneously, the expression levels of SQS and DBR2 genes decreased. It appears that the decrease in the expression of SQS and DBR2 genes caused the artemisinin content to increase by high concentrations of the nano cobalt particles.

Influence of nano‐zinc oxide on tropane alkaloid production, h6h gene transcription and antioxidant enzyme activity in Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. hairy roots

“…Yang et al [49] revealed that overexpression of pmt and h6h genes in A. belladonna L. caused a huge increase (11-and 24fold, respectively) in hyoscyamine content in elicited hairy roots compared to control and native roots. Similarly, cobalt and zinc nanoparticles have been shown to increase the expression of genes associated with the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway and have been proposed as elicitors to enhance artemisinin production [51]. In this study, the highest h6h gene expression was observed when hairy roots were treated with 100 mg/L ZnO after 48 h, being 4.2-fold higher than in the nonelicited hairy roots.…”

“…In this study, the highest h6h gene expression was observed when hairy roots were treated with 100 mg/L ZnO after 48 h, being 4.2-fold higher than in the nonelicited hairy roots. Similarly, cobalt and zinc nanoparticles have been shown to increase the expression of genes associated with the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway and have been proposed as elicitors to enhance artemisinin production [51].…”

Nanomaterials in plant tissue culture: the disclosed and undisclosed

“…Similarly, the highest artemisinin content (2.2fold increase over the control) was obtained in cell suspension cultures of A. annua 24 h aer treatment with 5 mg L À1 Co NPs. 96 The authors concluded that the Co NP treatment increased the artemisinin content as a result of downregulation of the SQS and DBR2 genes. Shakeran et al 97 investigated the effects of biotic (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and abiotic (AgNO 3 and Ag NPs) elicitors on atropine production in hairy root cultures of Datura metel.…”

Effect of cobalt nanoparticles and cobalt ions on alkaloids production and expression of CrMPK3 gene in Catharanthus roseus suspension cultures

“…The unique properties of nanoparticles as compared with their large-particle counterparts (29), may introduce a new button for fine tuning stress treatment. Cobalt nanoparticles were employed to enhance artemisinin synthesis in Artemisia annua suspension cultures (30).…”