Impacts of elicitors on metabolite production and on antioxidant potential and tyrosinase inhibition in watercress microshoot cultures

The study has proved the stimulating effects of different strategies of treatments with elicitors on the production of glucosinolates (GSLs), flavonoids, polyphenols, saccharides, and photosynthetic pigments in watercress (Nasturtium officinale) microshoot cultures. The study also assessed antioxidant and anti-melanin activities. The following elicitors were tested: ethephon (ETH), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), sodium salicylate (NaSA), and yeast extract (YeE) and were added on day 10 of the growth period. Cultures not treated with the elicitor were used as control. The total GSL content estimations and UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS analyses showed that elicitation influenced the qualitative and quantitative profiles of GSLs. MeJA stimulated the production of gluconasturtiin (68.34 mg/100 g dried weight (DW)) and glucobrassicin (65.95 mg/100 g DW). The elicitation also increased flavonoid accumulation (max. 1131.33 mg/100 g DW, for 100 mu M NaSA, collection after 24 h). The elicitors did not boost the total polyphenol content. NaSA at 100 mu M increased the production of total chlorophyll a and b (5.7 times after 24 h of treatment), and 50 mu M NaSA caused a 6.5 times higher production of carotenoids after 8 days of treatment. The antioxidant potential (assessed with the CUPRAC FRAP and DPPH assays) increased most after 24 h of treatment with 100 mu M MeJA. The assessment of anti-melanin activities showed that the microshoot extracts were able to cause inhibition of tyrosinase (max. 27.84% for 1250 mu g/mL). Graphical abstract

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the stimulating effects of different treatment strategies with elicitors on the production of various compounds in watercress microshoot cultures, and assesses their antioxidant and anti-melanin activities.