Abstract
A randomized complete block design was used to characterize the relationship between production of total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carbohydrate content, leaf gas exchange, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), soluble protein, invertase and antioxidant enzyme activities (ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Labisia pumila Benth var. alata under four levels of potassium fertilization experiments (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg K/ha) conducted for 12 weeks. It was found that the production of total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and carbohydrate content was affected by the interaction between potassium fertilization and plant parts. As the potassium fertilization levels increased from 0 to 270 kg K/ha, the production of soluble protein and PAL activity increased steadily. At the highest potassium fertilization (270 kg K/ha) L. pumila exhibited significantly higher net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 (Ci), apparent quantum yield (ξ) and lower dark respiration rates (Rd), compared to the other treatments. It was found that the production of total phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid are also higher under 270 kg K/ha compared to 180, 90 and 0 kg K/ha. Furthermore, from the present study, the invertase activity was also found to be higher in 270 kg K/ha treatment. The antioxidant enzyme activities (APX, CAT and SOD) were lower under high potassium fertilization (270 kg K/ha) and have a significant negative correlation with total phenolics and flavonoid production. From this study, it was observed that the up-regulation of leaf gas exchange and downregulation of APX, CAT and SOD activities under high supplementation of potassium fertilizer enhanced the carbohydrate content that simultaneously increased the production of L. pumila secondary metabolites, thus increasing the health promoting effects of this plant.
Highlights
A lot of research in recent years has been paying attention to phenolic acid and flavonoid intake from the human diet and possible health benefits due to the antioxidant nature of the aromatic phenolics and flavonoid structures [1,2]
Our results indicate that the manipulation of fertilizer, especially potassium, may be an effective method to increase the expression of secondary metabolites in L. pumila
The significant positive correlations of production of total flavonoids, phenolics and ascorbic acid content with photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and apparent quantum yield indicate the occurrence of the up-regulation of production of CBSM under enhanced photosynthetic capacity under high potassium fertilization
Summary
A lot of research in recent years has been paying attention to phenolic acid and flavonoid intake from the human diet and possible health benefits due to the antioxidant nature of the aromatic phenolics and flavonoid structures [1,2]. Phenolic acids are receiving considerable attention because of their reported protective role against cancer and heart disease This role may be attributed to their antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species, which is reported to be higher than that of vitamins C and E [4]. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that contain a C15 flavone skeleton and consists of the flavones, flavonols, flavanols, flavanone and flavanonols, which together represent the majority of plant secondary metabolites. These components are thought to play a role in the protection of plants from pests and diseases. Flavonoids have remarkable health promoting effects, such as anti-inflammatory [5], anti-microbial [6], antioxidant [7], anti cancer activity [8] as well as the prevention of osteoporosis [9]
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