Abstract
Hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida (Solanaceae), a South American plant which produces scopolamine and hyoscyamine, were exposed to different elicitors (jasmonic acid (JA) and aluminum chloride (AlCl3)) in order to increase their productivity and/or stimulate their liberation. Hairy roots of 19-day old cultures (exponential phase) were exposed to these elicitors for 24 and 48 hours. The effects on alkaloid accumulation and release into the medium were evaluated. JA was tested at 2.5 and 25 m g/ml. After 24 hours, JA promoted the release of hyoscyamine (~1200%) when the highest concentration was used. Therefore, the positive effects seen with JA could possibly be attributed in part to ethanol (EtOH), the solvent in which the acid was dissolved. At the lowest concentration tested, JA promoted an increase on scopolamine accumulation (30%) after 48 hours of exposure. When exposed to AlCl3 for 48 hours and at concentrations of 25 and 250m M, scopolamine and hyoscyamine accumulation increased in the roots (43-83%). After 48 hours of treatment with the highest concentration of AlCl3, release of scopolamine into the medium increased approximately 150%.
Upon acceptance of an article by the journal, authors will be asked to transfer the copyright to Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, which is committed to maintain the electronic access to the journal and to administer a policy of fair control and ensure the widest possible dissemination of the information. The author can use the article for academic purposes, stating clearly the following: "Published in Electronic Journal of Biotechnology at DOI:10.2225/volXX-issueX-fulltext-XX".
The Copyright Transfer Agreement must be submitted as a signed scanned copy to biotec@ucv.cl. All authors must send a copy of this document.