The Content of Phenolic Compounds in Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Plants Derived from Melatonin and NaCl Treated Seeds

Abstract

Stevia is a plant with many beneficial properties. It contains not only steviol glycosides, which are used as non-caloric natural sweeteners, but also a number of metabolites with antioxidant properties. This study examined the content of both phenolic acids and flavonoids in stevia leaves as an effect of treating seeds with melatonin and conducting germination in NaCl conditions. The results of our research indicated higher amounts of phenolic acids compared to flavonoids in stevia leaves. Among these acids, isochlorogenic, rosmarinic, and chlorogenic acids were accumulated in the largest amounts, regardless of the germination conditions. For 5 and 100 µM of melatonin treatments, the content of both phenolic acids and flavonoids increased. However, in salinity conditions (50 mM NaCl), 500 µM of melatonin had the most favorable effect on the synthesis of phenolic acids. The phenolic acids in that case reached a level three-times higher than that in the samples with the same melatonin concentration but without NaCl. We also found that the content of phenolic compounds varied depending on the age of the leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the effect of melatonin and NaCl on the synthesis on phenolic acids and flavonoids in stevia.

Meta-Topolin-induced mass shoot multiplication and biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni bioreactor culture

“…Isochlorogenic acid A was found to be dominant in the investigated shoot cultures, whereas neochlorogenic acid was found to accumulate in the lowest amounts. As in the present research, Simlat et al 34 also noted that, in stevia plants obtained from seeds, among all analysed phenolic acids, isochlorogenic A were present in the largest amounts. Isochlorogenic acid A has been identified in various species and currently shows great interest because of its medical properties: antiviral, neuroprotective, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antihepatitis B.…”

“…Among the flavonoids found in stevia leaves, for example, are hispidulin, 6-methoxyluteolin, quercetin, avicularin, rutin, hyperoside, luteolin, quercetin-3-D-glycoside, kaempferol, apigenin and quercitrin 34 . However, in in vitro cultures of stevia, only the total content of flavonoids was determined 22 , 23 .…”

“…The supernatant was filtered through 0.22 μm filter (Millex ® GP, Millipore, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). RP-HPLC analyses was carried out according to Simlat et al 34 using a Merck–Hitachi liquid chromatograph (LaChrom Elite, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with a DAD detector L-2455 and Purospher ® RP-18e (250 × 4 mm/5 mm) column (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Quantification was carried out at λ = 254 nm for phenolic acids and λ = 370 nm for flavonoids.…”

Salicylic acid promotes phenolic acid biosynthesis for the production of phenol acid‐rich barley sprouts

“…Phenolic acids are secondary metabolites of aromatic groups with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. 30 Phenolic acids are high in cereals, especially barley; therefore, phenolic acid-rich barley products have become a dietary source of natural antioxidants. 31 SA, a major plant hormone, influences the formation of secondary metabolites in plants, particularly the enrichment of phenolic acids.…”

“…Phenolic acids are secondary metabolites of aromatic groups with antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant effects 30 . Phenolic acids are high in cereals, especially barley; therefore, phenolic acid‐rich barley products have become a dietary source of natural antioxidants 31 .…”