Abstract
Background: The use of microorganisms such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) may represent a sustainable biotechnological alternative for the cultivation of medicinal plants to facilitate plant growth, in addition to increasing the production of secondary compounds. These fungi are associated with Libidibia ferrea, a species which produces gallic and ellagic acid, compounds with preventive properties against cancer and diabetes complications. Objective: The objective of this paper was to verify whether the stem bark of L. ferrea concentrates higher amounts of gallic and ellagic acids when inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Gigaspora albida and Acaulospora longula. Methods: The extractive methanolic solutions from the barks of L. ferrea were analyzed by RP-HPLC in order to establish the contents of gallic and ellagic acids. Results: The application of fungus Claroideoglumus etunicatum was more efficient at increasing the concentration of gallic acid (18%) and ellagic acid (45.2%) in the stem bark of L. ferrea in comparison to the control. In contrast, plants inoculated with Acaulospora longula benefited only with the increase in the amount of gallic acid if compared with the non-inoculated plants. Conclusion: The mycorrhizal technology may be an alternative to the cultivation of L. ferrea with higher concentrations of both gallic and ellagic acids in the stem bark, providing a promissory strategy to produce high quality herbal materials for the production of herbal medicines.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) periodically establishes recommendations for the countries to formulate national policies and regulations for the use of herbal medicines which were proven efficient at treating diseases
The application of fungus Claroideoglumus etunicatum was more efficient at increasing the concentration of gallic acid (18%) and ellagic acid (45.2%) in the stem bark of L. ferrea in comparison to the control
Plants inoculated with C. etunicatum had an increase in the concentrations of gallic acid and ellagic acid of 18% and 45.2%, respectively, in relation to the control (Table 1)
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) periodically establishes recommendations for the countries to formulate national policies and regulations for the use of herbal medicines which were proven efficient at treating diseases. The plant can produce a low amount of some therapeutically important compounds This scenario has developed the necessity to employ methods of cultivation of medicinal plants species with higher amount of phytochemicals to provide the herbal medicines industry with raw material [2]. Among the alternatives to increase the production of phytochemicals, we highlight the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), microorganisms that are able to benefit from the nutritional status of the host, growth, protection against pathogens [3], and the increase in the concentration of specific compounds of the secondary metabolism [4] In this context, Mandal et al [5] registered that a higher expression of key genes of the metabolic routes and intensive density of glandular trichomes in plants associated with Rhizophagus intraradices justified the raise in the production of artemisinin in Artemisia annua. These fungi are associated with Libidibia ferrea, a species which produces gallic and ellagic acid, compounds with preventive properties against cancer and diabetes complications
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