Enhanced Aryltetralin Lignans Production in <i>Linum</i> Adventi-Tious Root Cultures

• Main Authors: Michela Alfieri, Iride Mascheretti, Roméo A. Dougué Kentsop, Roberto Consonni, Franca Locatelli, Monica Mattana, Gianluca Ottolina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: <i>Linum</i>; aryltetralin lignans; 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin; elicitor; NMR; methyl jasmonate
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/17/5189

Lignans are the main secondary metabolites synthetized by <i>Linum</i> species as plant defense molecules. They are also valuable for human health, in particular, for their potent antiviral and antineoplastic properties. In this study, the adventitious root cultures of three <i>Linum</i> species (<i>L. flavum</i>, <i>L. mucronatum</i> and <i>L. dolomiticum</i>) were developed to produce aryltetralin lignans. The effect of two elicitors, methyl jasmonate and coronatine, on aryltetralin lignans production was also evaluated. The adventitious root cultures from <i>L. dolomiticum</i> were obtained and analyzed for the first time and resulted as the best producer for all the aryltetralins highlighted in this system: Podophyllotoxin, 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin-7-<i>O</i>-β-glucoside, the last showing a productivity of 92.6 mg/g DW. The two elicitors differently affected the production of the 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin-7-<i>O</i>-β-glucoside.