Ecdysteroid Content and Therapeutic Activity in Elicited Spinach Accessions.

Jonathan Gorelick,Nirit Bernstein,Rona Hacohen Iraqi

doi:10.3390/plants9060727

Jonathan Gorelick, Nirit Bernstein + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060727

Copy DOI

Abstract

While spinach is an established nutritionally important crop, its medicinal value is not as well known. Spinach is rich in ecdysteroids, insect hormone analogs with a number of medicinal properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and even anabolic activity. However, the potential of spinach as a medicinal plant has not yet been developed. In this study, the ecdysteroid content of spinach was optimized to increase its therapeutic value. Spinach seeds from various sources were grown under controlled hydroponic conditions and analyzed for ecdysteroid content and related anabolic activity. Variations in ecdysteroid content and the related anabolic activity were observed among spinach accessions. A selected variety, Spinacia oleracea cv. Turkey, was exposed to various physical and chemical elicitors to increase and stabilize ecdysteroid content. A number of elicitors, including methyl salicylate and mechanical damage, significantly increased ecdysteroid content and anabolic activity 24 h after exposure. The effect was transient and disappeared 48 h thereafter. Further work is needed to identify the most suitable germplasm and elicitation conditions for optimal ecdysteroid content.

Highlights

The recognized nutritional benefits of spinach are well known, rich in many vitamins and minerals [1]
A range of 20HE concentrations was observed in the various spinach material with sources with higher 20HE content possessing greater interplant variation
This increased chemical variability among different plant populations have been previous documented for a number of species [33,34,35]

Summary

Introduction

The recognized nutritional benefits of spinach are well known, rich in many vitamins and minerals [1]. While spinach is an established nutritionally important crop, the lesser known medicinal value hidden in spinach makes it a crop with significant market growth potential. Spinach was shown to possess anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties [2]. A spinach enriched diet conferred a neuroprotective effect on aging rats, improving both their learning capacity and motor skills [3]. In addition to these medicinal properties which have largely been attributed to flavonoids, spinach contains another type of biologically active compound, ecdysteroids [4]. Ecdysteroids, polyhydroxylated ketosteroids with long carbon side chains, are produced primarily in arthropods and plants, but are present in fungi and even in marine sponges [5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion