Micropropagation and elicited production of triterpenoid saponin glycosides and stigmasterol via precursor and elicitor feeding in Bacopa floribunda (R.Br.) Wettst.—A potential nootropic herb

Abstract

Bacopa floribunda (Family: Plantaginaceae) is used in folklore medicines for the management of cognitive dysfunction. It has nootropic, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and antioxidant properties. We developed an efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro propagation of B. floribunda using the nodal explants. We assessed the effects of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with various plant growth regulatory substances (PGRs), a precursor, and elicitors and their optimal combinations on regeneration and production of total saponins, triterpenoid saponin glycosides (bacoside A3, bacopaside X, bacopaside II, and bacosaponin C), and stigmasterol content in in vitro grown biomass of B. floribunda. The growth of the shoots and roots was stimulated by MS + 2.0 mg/l BAP + 2.0 mg/l KIN and MS + 0.5 mg/l IAA + 0.5 mg/l IBA + 1.0 mg/l NAA, respectively. After 10 weeks of acclimatization, plantlets of B. floribunda had a survival rate of 95%. The highest total saponin content (35.95 ± 0.022 mg DE/g DW) was noted in the treatment of MS + 2.0 mg/l BAP + 1.5 μM SQ. Similarly, total triterpenoid saponin glycosides and stigmasterol were found maximum in biomass derived from MS + 2.0 mg/l BAP + 1.5 μM SQ and MS + 2.0 mg/l BAP, respectively. At the same treatments, bacoside A3 (1.01 ± 0.195 mg/g DW), bacopaside II (43.62 ± 0.657 mg/g DW), bacopaside X (1.23 ± 0.570 mg/g DW), bacosaponin C (0.19 ± 0.195 mg/g DW), and stigmasterol (7.69 ± 0.102 mg/g DW) were reported. The present findings will help to highlight B. floribunda as a potent memory-enhancing herb, and in future also, it could be a potential substitute to B. monnieri. The current work is the first to describe the micropropagation and the elicited production of bioactive metabolites from the in vitro grown biomass of B. floribunda. In addition, further research is needed on production of bioactives, their pharmacological effects, and the elicited production using callus, cell suspension, and hairy root cultures.

Production of an important antidiabetic compound mangiferin through elicitation in Salacia chinensis under in vivo condition

“…However, the variation was observed in the contents according to the elicitor treatment (Figures 3-6). Elicitor-mediated production of bioactive metabolite production has been reported by several researchers (Ahire et al, 2014;Chavan et al, 2021;Otari et al, 2023). The present results revealed that a lower NaCl concentration (50 mM) supported elevated mangiferin content in root, stem and leaves.…”

The Optimization of Medium Conditions and Auxins in the Induction of Adventitious Roots of Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) and Their Phytochemical Constituents

“…Aculeatiside A and B accumulations in the callus of Solanum aculeatissimum were enhanced in solid medium with 0.1 mg/L NAA [ 61 ]. Furthermore, the application of exogenous auxins induced higher total saponins and saponin glycoside contents in the roots of Panax ginseng [ 62 ], Gypsophila paniculata roots [ 24 ], and Bacopa floribunda micropropagated plantlets [ 63 ]. Auxins can also show positive effects on the phenolic production in root cultures.…”

“…In addition to the adventitious induction, the effects of NAA on the elevated TPC have been proved in Salvia miltiorrhiza [ 55 ]. The application of exogenous auxins has demonstrated the improved content of total saponin in several plant species [ 62 , 63 ]. The efficiency of NAA in influencing these phytochemical contents may be attributed to the increased enzyme activities associated with the biosynthesis pathways of these compounds [ 56 ].…”