Enhancement of bioactive compound production in convolvulus arvensis callus cultures using elicitors

Abstract

Callus cultures offer a reproducible technique for increasing the production of secondary metabolites (SMs) in medicinal plants. Convolvulus arvensis as well as other wild plants are great source of bioactive compounds, but their production is inconsistent and insufficient. A potential approach to overcome this limitation and enhance specific phytochemicals is through elicitation in-vitro. This study aimed to investigate the impact of phenylalanine and salicylic acid (SA) as elicitors in production of bioactive compounds in C. arvensis callus cultures. Leaf explants of C. arvensis were cultured on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium fortified with 0.3 mg/L Benzyl adenine (BA) and 2.5 mg/L 2,4-D to induct callus. The calli were then treated with different concentrations of 15 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 45 mg/L and 60 mg/L phenylalanine and 30 mg/L, 60 mg/L, 90 mg/L and 120 mg/L salicylic acid, separately. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data interpretation indicated that the untreated calli produce phenolic substances like chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin and kaempferol, as well as alkaloids such as convolvine, convolamine, and wiansonine. The elicitors treatment significantly increased the secondary metabolites accumulation in the calli, 60 mg/L phenylalanine and 120 mg/L SA, accordantly showed the height level of secondary metabolite production. The findings of this research indicate the targeted elicitations with bioactive compounds can significantly increase the secondary metabolite production in C. arvensis callus, offering a potential strategy for enhance secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.