Micropropagation of Rare Scutellaria havanensis Jacq. and Preliminary Studies on Antioxidant Capacity and Anti-Cancer Potential

Abstract

We report the development of in vitro propagation protocols through an adventitious shoot induction pathway for a rare and medicinal Scutellaria havanensis. In vitro propagation studies using nodal explants showed MS medium supplemented with 10 µM 6-Benzylaminopurine induced the highest number of adventitious shoots in a time-dependent manner. A ten-day incubation was optimum for shoot bud induction as longer exposures resulted in hyperhydricity of the explants and shoots induced. We also report preliminary evidence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105-mediated gene transfer transiently expressing the green fluorescent protein in this species. Transformation studies exhibited amenability of various explant tissues, internode being the most receptive. As the plant has medicinal value, research was carried out to evaluate its potential antioxidant capacity and the efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts in curbing the viability of human colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. Comparative total polyphenol and flavonoid content measurement of fresh and air-dried leaf extract revealed that the fresh leaf extracts contain higher total polyphenol and flavonoid content. The HCT 116 cell viability was assessed by colorimetric assay using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, showed a steady growth inhibition after 24 h of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy of leaf surface revealed a high density of glandular and non-glandular trichomes. This research provides a basis for the conservation of this rare plant and future phytochemical screening and clinical research.

Establishment of a Transient Transformation Protocol in Cinnamomum camphora

“…phase was at OD600 = 0.8-1.0 [55]. A. tumefaciens EHA105 and LBA4404 started to enter the logarithmic phase at 0.3 and 0.5, and ended at 2.4 and 2.7, respectively [56,57]. In the present study, A. tumefaciens GV3101 was in the logarithmic phase at an OD600 of 0.5-1.5 (Figure 5A).…”

High-frequency adventitious shoot organogenesis from in vitro stem explants of Scutellaria araxensis Grossh

“…Scutellaria is a widely distributed, subcosmopolitan genus comprising around 360 species with several therapeutic properties such as antitumor, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, and antiviral activities (Shang et al, 2010 ). Although there are a few reports on in vitro organogenesis and micro-propagation of Scutellaria species (Trivedi et al, 2011 ; Zakaria et al, 2020 ; Gharari et al, 2021b ; Irvin et al, 2021 ), there is no report on the in vitro regeneration and propagation of S. araxensis .…”