Čes. slov. farm. 2009, 58(2):67-70

Production of isoflavonoids in the Trifolium pratense L. suspension culture

M. Kašparová^*, T. Siatka, J. Dušek

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmacognosy, Czech Republic

The plant Trifolium pratense L. contains a wide spectrum of constituents. Regarding the utilization of the red clover plant for therapeutic purposes, the most interesting substances are isoflavonoids. They are listed in the same class with the most important phytoestrogens. The explant cultures are a promising source of secondary metabolites, thus also of isoflavonoids. However, their production, when compared with intact plants, is usually lower and this is the reason why we are looking for different methods and approaches to increase the production. The objective of this study was to observe the influence of three elicitors - the salicylic acid, cadmium chloride, and mercury chloride - on the production of isoflavonoids by the Trifolium pratense L. suspension culture (Sprint variety). The best elicitation effect was observed with mercury chloride. The maximum increase in production was observed after a 6-hour application of the 1 μmol concentration when, after the comparison with the control sample, the production of daidzein was increased by 1300%, that of genistin by 375%, and that of genistein by 300%.

Keywords: Trifolium pratense L. suspension culture; production of isoflavonoids; biotic and abiotic elicitation

Received: March 13, 2009; Accepted: April 6, 2009; Published: February 1, 2009  Show citation