The biosynthesis of pharmacologically active compounds in Calophyllum brasiliense seedlings is influenced by calcium and potassium under hydroponic conditions

Abstract

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The influence of soil nutrients on biosynthesis of secondary metabolites from tropical trees has been poorly investigated.</p><p><strong>Questions: </strong>Does<strong> </strong>the deprival of Ca<sup>2+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> influence the production of pharmacologically active compounds in the seedling of <em>Calophyllum brasiliense</em>?</p><p><strong>Species study</strong>: <em>Calophyllum brasiliense</em> Cambess.</p><p><strong>Study site: </strong>Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico; November 2005 to November 2009.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The seedlings were obtained from seeds and subjected to different hydroponic treatments: 1) modified Hoagland solution (MHS), 2) MHS-Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and 3) MHS-K<sup>+</sup>. Growth, height, foliar biomass, and HPLC analysis were performed after 7 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under hydroponic conditions Ca<sup>2+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> deficiency induced the mortality of 53 % and 28 % of the seedlings, respectively. The foliar biomass, and plant height of the survivors were also drastically reduced. MHS-K<sup>+</sup> treatment induced a 15, 4.2 and 4.3-fold decrease for calanolides B, C, and apetalic acid in the leaves, respectively. MHS-Ca<sup>2+</sup> treatment induced a decrease of 4.3, and 2.4-fold for calanolide B, and C, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ca<sup>2+</sup> is essential for survival of <em>C. brasiliense</em> seedlings under hydroponic conditions, Ca<sup>2+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> are critical for growth, foliar production, and biosynthesis of apetalic acid, and calanolide B.</p>

Naturally Occurring Calanolides: Occurrence, Biosynthesis, and Pharmacological Properties Including Therapeutic Potential

“…3-Propyl-intermediate is converted to the precursor compound for calanolides A-C (1, 4 and 6), utilizing the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement reaction, and the precursor compound is believed to be converted to calanolides with the help of p450 monooxygenase enzyme (Scheme 3). Published studies on the biosynthesis of calanolides are rather limited and only two publications are available on this topic to date [28,29]. Therefore, detailed knowledge of specific enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of calanolides is still in its infancy.…”

“…Therefore, detailed knowledge of specific enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of calanolides is still in its infancy. In a recent study, the influence of soil nutrients, e.g., Ca 2+ and K + , on the biosynthesis of pharmacologically active calanolides in the seedlings of C. brasiliense was studied [29]. It was observed that the use of K + deficient modified Hoagland solution (MHS) could induce a 15, 4.2 and 4.3-fold decrease of calanolides B (4), C (6), and apetalic acid concentrations in the leaves of the seedlings, respectively.…”