Effect of short-term cold stress on flavonoid accumulation in Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia annua “hairy” root cultures

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of short-term cold stress (+10°С) on the growth, flavonoid synthesis and antioxidant activity in Artemisia vulgaris L. and A. annua L. “hairy“ root cultures. Methods. Transgenic roots were cultivated during the first 1, 2 and 5 days at +10°C on Murashige and Skoog basal medium with twice reduced macrosalt content. The total flavonoids content in Rutin equivalent was determined using alcohol extract reaction with alumunium chloride. Antioxidant activity was studied using the DPPH method. Results. Short-term cold stress resulted in a reduction of mass increment by 12–76 %. The total flavonoid content in «hairy» roots ranged from 32.0±3.13 to 187.0±21.04 mg RE/g dry weight. Decrease of temperature has led to decrease of the flavonoids content in No. 1, No. 2 A. vulgaris root lines and No. 5 A. annua line by 18–33 %. The reaction of No. 3 A. vulgaris and No. 4 A. annua root lines was expressed in stimulation flavonoid synthesis by 62 % and 56.5 %. Cultivation of «hairy» roots under short-term cold stress has led to decrease of the antioxidant activity in all roots lines by 4–40 %. Conclusions. Сold stress had negative effect the “hairy“ roots growth, stimulated flavonoids accumulation only in two “hairy” root lines and reduced the level of antioxidant activity.
 Keywords: «hairy» roots culture, Artemisia spp., cold stress, flavonoids, antioxidant activity.