Methyljasmonate Elicitation Increases Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Accumulation in Rhazya stricta Hairy Root Cultures

Abstract

Methyl jasmonate is capable of initiating or improving the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants and therefore has opened up a concept for the biosynthesis of valuable constituents. In this study, the effect of different doses of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicitation on the accumulation of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in the hairy root cultures of the medicinal plant, Rhazya stricta throughout a time course (one-seven days) was investigated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were carried out for targeted ten major non-polar alkaloids. Furthermore, overall alterations in metabolite contents in elicited and control cultures were investigated applying proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Methyl jasmonate caused dosage- and time course-dependent significant rise in the accumulation of TIAs as determined by GC-MS. The contents of seven alkaloids including eburenine, quebrachamine, fluorocarpamine, pleiocarpamine, tubotaiwine, tetrahydroalstonine, and ajmalicine increased compared to non-elicited cultures. However, MeJA-elicitation did not induce the accumulation of vincanine, yohimbine (isomer II), and vallesiachotamine. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) of 1H NMR metabolic profiles revealed a discrimination between elicited hairy roots and control cultures with significant increase in total vindoline-type alkaloid content and elevated levels of organic and amino acids. In addition, elicited and control samples had different sugar and fatty acid profiles, suggesting that MeJA also influences the primary metabolism of R. stricta hairy roots. It is evident that methyl jasmonate is applicable for elevating alkaloid accumulation in “hairy root” organ cultures of R. strica.

Enhanced Accumulation of Betulinic Acid in Transgenic Hairy Roots of Senna obtusifolia Growing in the Sprinkle Bioreactor and Evaluation of Their Biological Properties in Various Biological Models

“…Since, for many reasons, the naturally occurring plant material in the environment is not able to satisfy the demand, a lot of attention is focused on obtaining high‐yield in vitro plant cultures that are an excellent source of valuable secondary metabolites. Multiple research results show that the efficient synthesis of anthraquinones, phenolics and flavonoids or terpenoid indole alkaloid is possible thanks to the use of many different strategies [32–35] . Secondary metabolites, demonstrating a diverse set of properties in the plant (influencing its development, protection against the adverse effects of external factors, etc.)…”

Improving large-scale biomass and total alkaloid production of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. using a temporary immersion bioreactor system and MeJA elicitation

“…Many studies have confirmed that the phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can enhance the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in officinal plants [ 23 – 25 ]. MeJA, as an elicitor, plays an important role in the signal transduction of alkaloids biosynthesis and has been reported to promote the accumulation of metabolites in Dendrobium plants [ 26 – 29 ].…”

Methyl Jasmonate Effect on Betulinic Acid Content and Biological Properties of Extract from Senna obtusifolia Transgenic Hairy Roots

“…So far, many examples have been reported in which the use of such an approach resulted in higher productivity [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Akhgari et al [ 13 ], studying the effects of different doses of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the accumulation of terpenoid indole alkaloids in the hairy roots of the Rhazya stricta, showed an increased content of alkaloids compared to non-elicited cultures. Additionally, Wei et al [ 14 ] showed that kaurene synthase-like gene overexpression combined with methyl jasmonate treatment enhanced tanshinone production from Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots.…”