Methyl jasmonate induced polyphenols and antioxidant production in callus suspension culture of Nardostachys jatamansi

Abstract

In vitro establishment of callus suspension culture and incorporation of Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was studied on the accumulation of polyphenols and other antioxidant activity in Nardostachys jatamansi. The maximum explants establishment (95%) was recorded in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA 21.1 µM) and kinetin (Kn 3.16 µM). Leaf explants from in vitro derived shoots when cultured on MS medium in combination with NAA (23.1 µM), 6-Benzyladenine (BA 4.0 µM) and Kn (1.16 µM), 32% of the explants formed tiny adventitious roots with callus and 52% of the explants formed green callus without adventitious roots within 60 days of inoculation. Callus cultured with a combination of NAA, BA and Kn in ½ MS liquid medium exhibited maximum fresh weight (7.9 ± 0.10 g). Incorporation of MeJA in ½ MS liquid medium containing NAA, BA and Kn enhanced polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity, however it varied with the concentration used. MeJA-treated callus showed higher accumulation of all the measured polyphenols and antioxidant activity. This protocol is suitable to harness the industrial potential of the species without destroying plants growing in the natural habitat and this, in turn, would reduce collection from the wild.