Chitosan extracted from Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) induced bioactive compound and pigment content in Centella asiatica

Abstract

Pegagan (Centela asiatica) is a plant contains a diversity of secondary metabolites. Chitosan, which is primarily derived from crustaceans and some certain insects, has been proposed as an active elicitor that enhances plant bioactive compounds. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chitosan application extracted from cricket (Grylus bimaculatus) and commercial chitosan to induce bioactive compound and pigment content in C. asiatica. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Chitosan treatments were CN (without chitosan as control), CR (cricket chitosan at 50 ppm), and CM (commercial chitosan at 50 ppm), which were applied by spraying the leaves daily for 7 days. The changes in morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of the plants were analyzed after treatment. The result showed that foliar spray using cricket chitosan with 50 ppm doses induced the plants to have the highest bioactive compounds and pigment content. The enhancement levels of its bioactive compound and pigment content might contribute to the enhancement of its antioxidant activity levels of C. asiatica extract. This result highlights the remarkable potential of cricket (G. bimaculatus) as a promising alternative source of chitosan that can be used to stimulate bioactive compounds in C. asiatica.