Elicitor Application Influences the Phytochemical Profile of Salacia reticulata with the Formation of New Novel Metabolites of Medicinal Value

Abstract

Salacia reticulata which is a well known plant for antidiabetic properties were subject to elicitor application. The field grown plants were sprayed with aqueous extracts of 2% Aspergillus niger mycelium as biotic elicitor and 0.2mM salicylic acid as abiotic elicitor. Elicitation of phenolics and flavonoids were marginal in both the treatments. Formation of seven new compounds in biotic elicitor treatment and eight new compounds in abiotic elicitor treatment was evident from GCMS studies. Significantly Ala-Gly, Trimethylsilyl Ester; Cyclotrisiloxane, Hexamethyl and Eicosanoic Acid, 2,3-Bis[(Trimethylsilyl) Oxy] Propyl Ester were the new compounds found in both the elicitor treatments. Cyclotrisiloxane, Hexamethyl- is a known molecule with Antioxidant, Antiasthmatics and Antogonositic effects. Interestingly, Benzene acetonitrile, Alpha.-(.Beta.-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-,(R)-, which is a potent anticancer agent and Antioxidant ,was found only upon biotic elicitor treatment. Thus this study has led to the finding of new molecules in Salacia with potent novel medicinal properties.