A combination of elicitor and precursor enhances psoralen production in Psoralea corylifolia Linn. suspension cultures

Abstract

Psoralen is a pharmaceutically important furanocoumarin produced by Psoralea corylifolia Linn. A strategy for the enhanced production of psoralen has been developed using suspension cultures of P. corylifolia through combined elicitation and elicitor and precursor feeding. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) were used as elicitors with one of the psoralen biosynthesis pathway precursor trans-Cinnamic acid (CA). Either MeJA (or) SA individually at 100 μM enhanced psoralen production higher than control (13.6 and 10.2 folds respectively), however, administration of these two elicitors together did not result in enhancement of psoralen production. While, either MeJA or SA in combination with 16.8 mM CA exhibited positive synergetic effect on psoralen production. A combination of 100 μM MeJA with 16.8 mM CA exhibited the highest psoralen production (24.9 folds higher than control) compared with the other elicitor combinations used in the study. Results of the present study, demonstrate that, MeJA is an influential elicitor for enhancing psoralen production and in combination with precursor (CA) proved promising for higher psoralen yield, and this could be the effective strategy.