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Production of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in hairy root and shoot cultures of Hypericum perforatum L.

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Abstract

Three hairy root clones of Hypericum perforatum (HR 2, HR 15 and HR 27) transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4M70GUS and their corresponding regenerated shoot culture clones (HRRS) were compared for differences in growth, production of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Transgenic clones were selected on the basis of morphological evaluation, genetic and molecular analyses. The clone HR 2 had the highest biomass accumulation, while HR 27 showed the highest shoot regeneration potential. The total phenolics and flavan-3-ols were enhanced in all tested transgenic cultures, while total flavonoids and hypericins were augmented in HRRS clones compared to non-transformed shoots. The HRRS clones produced substantial amounts of chlorogenic acid and 3-p-coumaroylquinic acid. Regarding the flavonoids, they produced significant contents of luteolin hexoside (HRRS 2), quercitrin and quercetin (HRRS 15) and isoquercetin (HRRS 27), while HR 2 and 15 accumulated 4-O-methylkaempferol-O-hexoside and quercetin 6-C-glucoside, respectively. The HR 15 was promising for the production of catechin and procyanidin derivatives and together with its HRRS clone exhibited a high potential for hyperforin and adhyperforin production. All identified naphtodianthrones were confirmed in HRRS 2 and 15 clones. Among xanthones, mangiferin was found as the major compound in HRRS, while trihydroxy-1-metoxy-C-prenyl xanthone was dominant in HR clones. Antimicrobial activity of transgenic cultures revealed that HRRS 15 strongly inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus flavus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Altogether, H. perforatum HR and HRRS cultures could be proposed as promising experimental systems for enhanced production of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

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Abbreviations

DW:

Dry weight

FW:

Fresh weight

GI:

Growth index

HR:

Hairy roots

HRRS:

Hairy root-regenerated shoots

Hyp:

Hypericin

MBC:

Minimal bactericidal concentration

MIC:

Minimal inhibitory concentration

NEAOP:

Non-enzymatic antioxidant properties

NRS:

Number of regenerated shoots per explant

NS:

Number of regenerated shoots per gram fresh weight

NTR:

Non-transformed roots

NTS:

Non-transformed shoots

TA:

Total anthocyanins

TF:

Total flavonoids

TFL:

Total flavanols

THyp:

Total hypericins

TP:

Total phenolics

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development Grant Nos. 173015 and 173032.

Author contributions

MOT, Dr. SGS, Dr. JPS and Dr. MS performed phytochemical analyses and described the results with respect to essential questions. Dr. BV, Dr. DKM, Dr. MS, Dr. AĆ, Dr. SZK and Dr. DV obtained H. perforatum transgenic clones and performed antimicrobial activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University, Archimedova str. 3, 1000, Skopje, Macedonia

    Oliver Tusevski & Sonja Gadzovska Simic

  2. Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia

    Branka Vinterhalter, Dijana Krstić Milošević, Marina Soković, Ana Ćirić, Dragan Vinterhalter & Snežana Zdravković Korać

  3. Institute of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University, Arhimedova str. 3, 1000, Skopje, Macedonia

    Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva & Marina Stefova

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  1. Oliver Tusevski
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  2. Branka Vinterhalter
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  3. Dijana Krstić Milošević
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Correspondence to Sonja Gadzovska Simic.

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Tusevski, O., Vinterhalter, B., Krstić Milošević, D. et al. Production of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in hairy root and shoot cultures of Hypericum perforatum L.. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 128, 589–605 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-016-1136-9

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