Abstract
Castor bean (Ricinus communis) seeds contain ricinine, an alkaloid with insecticidal and insectistatic activities. Elicitation with salicylic acid (SA) has proven to stress R. communis and might modify the ricinine concentration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of ricinine in the bagasse of seeds from R. communis elicited with exogenous SA under greenhouse conditions. Plants were grown and divided into five groups, which were sprayed with SA and drench with 50 mL 60 days after sowing with concentrations of SA (0, 100, 300, 600 and 900 µM). Clusters were mixed and separated according to the treatment, and dried. The seeds were ground, the oil was extracted by Soxhlet with hexane, and then the bagasse was extracted with methanol. Ricinine was determined by HPLC. Elicitation did not change the plant height or diameter; the control group had 9.17 µg mL−1 of ricinine; and the concentrations followed a hormesis curve with the peak at 300 µM of SA that had a ricinine concentration of 18.25 µg mL−1. Elicitation with SA might be a cost-effective technique to increase ricinine from R. communis bagasse.
Highlights
Castor bean plant Ricinus communis is a nonedible seed crop
Ricinine is present in all parts of the plant, and its production can be enhanced by nitrogen, and environmental factors such as salinity and drought [10]
Given the industrial importance of R. communis and the high availability around the world, the aim of this study was to evaluate salicylic acid in the yield of ricinine alkaloid contained in R. communis seeds under greenhouse conditions
Summary
Castor bean plant Ricinus communis is a nonedible seed crop This species is native of tropical Africa, and due to its commercial importance, is currently cultivated worldwide in countries with tropical weather such as Mexico [1]. Ricinine is one of the most important metabolites of R. communis: it is an alkaloid (3-Cyano-4 methoxy-N-methyl-2-pyridone), which belongs to the group of piperidine alkaloids, and depending on the concentration, it could cause emesis, nausea, and even death if ingested [6] This alkaloid contains a cyano group in its structure, which gives its toxicity; a property that suggests its use as an insecticidal, against Atta sexdenx rubropilosa and against Spodoptera frugiperda [7,8]. Ricinine is present in all parts of the plant, and its production can be enhanced by nitrogen, and environmental factors such as salinity and drought [10]
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