Biotic elicitors influence boeravinone B production from cell suspension cultures of Boerhavia diffusa Linn.

Abstract

Boerhavia diffusa L., (punarnava) is known for its rich, secondary metabolite content and potential pharmacological properties. Boeravinone B, a flavonoid, is a significant plant secondary metabolite found in punarnava, exhibiting various pharmacological properties that translate into anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and nephroprotective activities. However, the limited production of boeravinone B within the plant poses challenges in meeting market demands. In this study, various biotic components, including filtrates and supernatants of algae, fungi, and bacteria, are employed as elicitors to enhance the production of boeravinone B from the cell suspension cultures of punarnava. Fungal components like yeast extract, Aspergillus niger and Cordyceps militaris, bacteria like Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, as well as Algae such as Valonia utricularis and Spirulina platensis, are utilised to assess their efficiency as elicitors at different day intervals. Results indicate that among all the elicitor treatments, fungal components like yeast extract, C. militaris and A. niger at 100 mg/L, 1 % and 5 % concentrations, administered 6, 6 and 2, days before harvesting, exhibit increased production of boeravinone B by 1.13, 1.14 and 2.63 folds, respectively, when compared to control cultures. Similarly, algae V. utricularis and S. platensis, at 2.5 % concentration and treated before harvesting on Day 6, demonstrate enhanced production of boeravinone B by 1.74 and 4.40 folds compared to control cultures. In addition, the efficiency of various biotic elicitors is examined by quantifying total phenolics and flavonoids in treated cell suspension cultures. These findings have the potential to enhance production strategies and meet the growing demand for this valuable compound with medicinal properties, leveraging easily accessible biotic elicitors.