The Synthesis and Storage Sites of Phenolic Compounds in the Root and Rhizome of <i>Echinacea purpurea</i>

Abstract

Cichoric acid is the main phenolic compound in the root and rhizome of the medicinal part, Echinacea purpurea that is known for possessing immune enhancing characteristics. In this study, we analysis the the synthesis and storage sites of phenolic compound in E. purpurea. We used fluorescent microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, cytochemical and immunocytochemical localization to observe the distribution of phenolic compounds. Our results show that the phenolic compounds were mostly distributed in the cortex parenchyma cells, vascular parenchyma cells and pith parenchyma cells in the root and rhizome, and mainly present in the vacuoles, large intercellular spaces and their surrounding cell walls. No phenolic compounds were observed in the cytoplasm and the organelles. We concluded that the phenolic compounds were synthetized in the cortex parenchyma cells, vascular parenchyma cells and pith parenchyma cells in the root and rhizome, and stored in the vacuoles of parenchyma cells. The above results provided significantly cytological information for further approaching the metabolic regulation and transfer pathways of phenolic compounds in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Polyphenols Distribution and Reserve Substances Analysis in Cocoa Somatic Embryogenesis

“…Therefore, it was speculated that the distribution of phenolic compounds to periphery in somatic embryos might reflect the natural process in zygotic embryos, which polyphenols go through the cell wall, and store in the intercellular spaces outside the cell, to inhibit the pathogens invading from the apoplast pathway and start the first defense barrier in time after the plant was harmed or infected. As to the abundant phenolic compounds in the vascular parenchyma cells, it might perform important protective effect on preventing the pathogen from spreading via vessels and guaranteeing the normal transportation of the nutrients in the phloem (Li et al, 2012). The changes in protein and polysaccharides are additional evidence in support of this hypothesis.…”

Manoyl Oxide (13R), the Biosynthetic Precursor of Forskolin, Is Synthesized in Specialized Root Cork Cells in Coleus forskohlii

“…These metabolites may otherwise display adverse activities for the producing plant cell. Intracellular storage of such biologically active metabolites in the vacuole is well established for water-soluble compounds and for compounds that become water soluble through conjugation (Marinova et al, 2007;Ferreres et al, 2011;Zhao et al, 2011;Li et al, 2012b). Similarly, for the large class of often-lipophilic terpenoids, it has been suggested that their intracellular accumulation may be limited by nonspecific interference with cellular Figure 6.…”

Variation in stem morphology and movement of amyloplasts in white spruce grown in the weightless environment of the International Space Station

“…In the present study, these compounds reacted with toluidine blue O and osmium tetroxide. As phenols are known to be stained by toluidine blue O (Harling and Taylor, 1985;Baayen et al, 1996;Rioux et al, 1998) and frequently react with osmium tetroxide (Parham and Kaustinen, 1976;Franceschi et al, 1998;Li et al, 2012), we have good reason to believe that they were indeed of a phenolic nature in the present study. It was frequent to see artefacts such as holes within such phenol bodies (Fig.…”