Elicitation of Diosgenin Production in Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) Seedlings by Methyl Jasmonate.

Spandan Chaudhary,Arpita Ghosh,Abhinav Chaudhary,Bakhtiyar Alam Syed,Pooja Chaudhary,Mahesh Sharma,Maulik Patel,Surendra Chikara,Aditya Mehta,Marcello Iriti

doi:10.3390/ijms161226208

Abstract

The effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), an elicitor of plant defense mechanisms, on the biosynthesis of diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, were investigated in six fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) varieties (Gujarat Methi-2, Kasuri-1, Kasuri-2, Pusa Early Branching, Rajasthan Methi and Maharashtra Methi-5). Treatment with 0.01% MeJA increased diosgenin levels, in 12 days old seedlings, from 0.5%–0.9% to 1.1%–1.8%. In addition, MeJA upregulated the expression of two pivotal genes of the mevalonate pathway, the metabolic route leading to diosgenin: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG) and sterol-3-β-glucosyl transferase (STRL). In particular, MeJA increased the expression of HMG and STRL genes by 3.2- and 22.2-fold, respectively, in the Gujarat Methi-2 variety, and by 25.4- and 28.4-fold, respectively, in the Kasuri-2 variety. Therefore, MeJA may be considered a promising elicitor for diosgenin production by fenugreek plants.

Highlights

IntroductionTrigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the family of Fabaceae (subfamily Papilionaceae), widely used for a number of medicinal applications all over the world [1]
Trigonella foenum-graecum is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the family of Fabaceae, widely used for a number of medicinal applications all over the world [1]
Total RNAs extracted from 36 treated and six control samples, analyzed with two peaks representing 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA along with a 5S ribosomal RNA peak, were observed on denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis and the RNA integrity number (RIN) value of all of them was found to be above six, which indicates that RNA can be used for further analyses

Summary

Introduction

Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the family of Fabaceae (subfamily Papilionaceae), widely used for a number of medicinal applications all over the world [1]. Many bioactive phytochemicals have been reported in fenugreek, including saponins, a class of glycosylated triterpenes that show antimicrobial, antiviral and insecticidal activities [16] These compounds represent a part of the plant defense mechanisms against biotic stress and, can be classified as phytoprotectants [17,18]. Diosgenin ((25R)-5-spirosten-3H-ol) (Pubchem ID 99474) is one of the most bioactive components of fenugreek which has been investigated due to its anticancer and anti-aging activities [19,20,21,22,23]. The synthesis of some steroidal drugs and hormones such as testosterone, glucocorticoids, norethisterone and progesterone may arise from diosgenin used as precursor [9]

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