Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Synthesis of Primary and Secondary Metabolites in Three Varieties of Kacip Fatimah (Labisia Pumila Blume)

Abstract

A split plot 3 by 4 experiment was designed to examine the impact of 15-week variable levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg N/ha) on the characteristics of total flavonoids (TF), total phenolics (TP), total non structurable carbohydrate (TNC), net assimilation rate, leaf chlorophyll content, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), phenyl alanine lyase activity (PAL) and protein content, and their relationships, in three varieties of Labisia pumila Blume (alata, pumila and lanceolata). The treatment effects were solely contributed by nitrogen application; there was neither varietal nor interaction effect observed. As nitrogen levels increased from 0 to 270 kg N/ha, the production of TNC was found to decrease steadily. Production of TF and TP reached their peaks under 0 followed by 90, 180 and 270 kg N/ha treatment. However, net assimilation rate was enhanced as nitrogen fertilization increased from 0 to 270 kg N/ha. The increase in production of TP and TF under low nitrogen levels (0 and 90 kg N/ha) was found to be correlated with enhanced PAL activity. The enhancement in PAL activity was followed by reduction in production of soluble protein under low nitrogen fertilization indicating more availability of amino acid phenyl alanine (phe) under low nitrogen content that stimulate the production of carbon based secondary metabolites (CBSM). The latter was manifested by high C/N ratio in L. pumila plants.

Assessment of the nitrogen fertilization effect on bioactive compounds of frozen fresh and dried samples of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

“…Beyond this, N also has other functions in plant life, such as those related with biomass yield (Rodrigues, Afonso, Ferreira, & Arrobas, 2016); presently, it was confirmed that high rates of N increase both the number and size of leaf cells (Yadav et al, 2011). Regarding bioactive constituents, and despite the existence of conflicting results, it has been shown that N availability not only influences the secondary metabolites production in a predictable manner, but also plant growth and differentiation processes (Aires et al, 2006;Ibrahim, Jaafar, Rahmat, & Rahman, 2011). Thus, it becomes increasingly evident that different N rates influence the biosynthesis of active constituents by cultivated medicinal plants (Karimi, Jaafar, & Ahmad, 2013;Tavarini, Sgherri, Ranieri, & Angelini, 2015).…”

“…A similar scenario was also observed in Labisia pumila (Benth. & Hook) indicating that the manipulation of N fertilization levels may be an effective method to improve the expression of secondary metabolites (Ibrahim et al, 2011). However, in general, research is overlooking the fact that the availability of N might be a determinant/important factor on secondary metabolism in medicinal and aromatic plants.…”

Allelopathy and Allelochemicals of Eragrostis plana (Poaceae) and its Relation with Phenology and Nitrogen Fertilization

“…In general, when there is addition of N in the soil there is no decrease in secondary metabolites. Ibrahim et al (2011) found a reduction of flavonoids, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid by increasing the N doses on "kacip fatimah" (Labisia pumila, Primulaceae) as well as a lower antioxidant power of its extracts, which may be related to a lower incidence of light in plants due to the increased vegetative growth caused by N.…”

“…Nevertheless, there is no clarity about its effect on the allelopathic activity and on the concentration of allelochemicals. Some authors mention the increase of secondary metabolites under low N availability in the soil (Ibrahim et al, 2011), while others indicate that N increases the concentration of phenolic acids (Chou and Lee, 1988;Ma et al, 2015). Phenolic compounds may, in turn, be in a higher or a lower concentration, depending on the physiological age of the plants.…”

Influence of combined sources of nitrogen fertilization on quality of cv. Vitria pineapple

“…In chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), Liu et al (2010) observed a reduction in antioxidant activity with increased N supply and attributed this reduction to the competition for Lphenylalanine, a precursor of both proteins and polyphenols, since these compounds inhibit the oxidizing action. For Labisiapumila (a medicinal herb from southeastern Asia), the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase was reduced with increasing doses of N, and it was observed that this behavior was accompanied by a reduction in the content of flavonoids and phenolic compounds (Ibrahim et al, 2011).…”