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Synergistic effect of methyl jasmonate and cyclodextrins on anthraquinone accumulation in cell suspension cultures of Morinda citrifolia and Rubia tinctorum

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Abstract

Plant in vitro culture is a platform for producing secondary metabolites that combines safety, quality and low environmental impact. Besides, it is possible to increase the accumulation of these compounds by different strategies, such as elicitation. In this work, we analyzed the effects of the combination of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and two cyclodextrins (CDs) on the production of anthraquinones (AQs) in cell cultures of Rubiaceae (Morinda citrifolia and Rubia tinctorum). These secondary metabolites have been traditionally used as dyes and have interesting therapeutic applications. The experiments were designed according to a full factorial design of two factors (MeJ and a CD) in two levels (0 and 0.1 mM for MeJ, and 0 and 20 mM of the CD). MeJ and (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) synergistically increased intracellular AQ content in suspension cultures of R. tinctorum, and, to a lesser extent, in suspension cultures of M. citrifolia. Combination of MeJ with another CD, 2-methyl-β-cyclodextrin, led to a more intense and later increase in AQ content in cell cultures of R. tinctorum when compared to MeJ–HPCD treatment. However, the combination of CD and MeJ failed to induce a drastic AQ release to the culture media. Nevertheless, our results show that combination of strategies (using a CD and MeJ) was successful to increase secondary metabolite accumulation in suspension cultures. To our knowledge, this is the first report of synergistic effect of MeJ and CD on AQ accumulation in plant in vitro cultures.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant PIP 0366, CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Argentina, and by grant UBACyT B181, Universidad de Buenos Aires. MP; JRT and AMG are researchers from CONICET. MES is a fellow from CONICET.

Authors’ contribution

MP performed the experimental work and wrote the article. MES collaborated in the experimental work. AMG and JRT supervised the experimental work and the writing.

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  1. Cátedra de Biotecnología - Instituto NANOBIOTEC, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Junín 956, 1113, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Perassolo, María Emilia Smith, Ana María Giulietti & Julián Rodríguez Talou

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  1. María Perassolo
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  2. María Emilia Smith
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  3. Ana María Giulietti
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  4. Julián Rodríguez Talou
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Correspondence to Julián Rodríguez Talou.

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Perassolo, M., Smith, M.E., Giulietti, A.M. et al. Synergistic effect of methyl jasmonate and cyclodextrins on anthraquinone accumulation in cell suspension cultures of Morinda citrifolia and Rubia tinctorum . Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 124, 319–330 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-015-0896-y

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