Abstract :
Keywords: Cell suspension; Elicitor; Galega officinalis; Galegine; Medicinal plants Abstract Galega officinalis L. is known for its dominant secondary metabolite "galegine" a guanidine derivative used in the synthesis of biguanides, metformin, and phenformin as drugs for type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of type, concentration, and duration of elicitor application on the content of galegine in the cell suspension culture of G. officinalis. For this purpose, the best cell line in terms of growth rate was selected and propagated for treatment with elicitors. Then, at the end of the log phase of cell growth, chitosan (100, 200, and 300 mg L.sup.-1), salicylic acid (SA) (50, 75, and 100 mM), and ultrasound (1, 2, and 4 min) were applied as elicitors. Three and 6-d after elicitation, we harvested the cells and measured total phenol, total flavonoid, and galegine contents. Ultrasound treatment significantly decreased the cell biomass and increased medium electrical conductivity (EC) at 1, 2, and 4 min treatment as compared with control. Results showed that the highest galegine content (6.86±0.47 mg g.sup.-1 FW) was obtained in 3-d or 6-d harvested cells that were treated with ultrasonic waves for 1 min without significant differences with 75 µM of SA at 3-d harvest time. Also, the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were observed 3 d after elicitation in treatment with 100 and 200 mg L.sup.-1 chitosan and 1- or 2-min ultrasonic treatment. In general, the application of ultrasonic waves, salicylic acid, and chitosan resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the content of galegine, total phenol, and flavonoid in cell suspension cultures of G. officinalis. Author Affiliation: (1) Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran (2) Department of Crop Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran (3) Biosensor Sciences and Technologies Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran (b) r-asghari@uma.ac.ir Article History: Registration Date: 08/30/2022 Received Date: 02/25/2022 Accepted Date: 08/30/2022 Online Date: 09/30/2022 Byline: