Effect of elicitors on secondary metabolites biosynthesis in Zataria multiflora Boiss.

Abstract

Zataria multiflora Boiss. (ZM) is an aromatic herb that is used in various industries, especially in pharmaceuticals and food. However, the inducer effect of elicitors on ZM, with the aim of increasing the bioactive compounds production, is understudied. This study analyzes the influence of a biotic (chitin) and abiotic (copper nanoparticle) elicitor on ZM under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. In the first step, having established in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) based on the node culture method, the explants transferred to media with different blended to survey the improvements in growth. The modified MS having faster growth and propagation in ZMs was chosen. In the second step, when explants were grown and rooted enough, they were transmitted to the media of elicitors, including four copper oxide nanoparticle concentrations (0, 25, 50, & 100 mg L−1) and four chitin concentrations (0, 50, 100 & 200 mg L−1) at two exposure times (5 and 10 days) to measure biochemical attributes. The analysis showed that the highest contents of the total phenolic (6.44 mg g−1 FW), anthocyanins (39.59 mg g−1 FW), flavonols (0.76 mg g−1 FW), and flavonoids (0.97 mg g−1 FW) compounds were observed in the elicited ZMs. In addition, the components of secondary metabolites were identified by gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. It was revealed that the highest amount of thymol and carvacrol, as the main compositions of ZM, was in the copper oxide nanoparticle (2.51% and 38.03% respectively), control (2.34% and 28.51% respectively), and chitin (1.92% and 9.84% respectively) ZMs in turn. The present research indicates that choosing an appropriate elicitor, concentration, and exposure time for augmenting the production of bioactive compounds in each plant species is consequential so as to provide the possibility of utilizing in industry.