Salicylic acid on antioxidant activity and betacyan in production from leaves of Alternanthera tenella

This research investigates effects of salicylic acid (an abiotic elicitor) on the antioxidant activity and betacyan production from leaves of Alternanthera tenella cultured in vitro was evaluated Plants were grown in a liquid MS medium and vermiculite substrate. After 35 days salicylic acid was added to the medium. Content of betacyanins, total phenols and flavonoids and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity were determined in leaves of A. tenella after 0, 12, 36 and 48h of treatment. After 36h, concentration of betacyanins and total phenols increased On the other hand, the increase of the treatment time caused a slight decrease in total flavonoids and reduced the DPPH free radical activity. As result the antioxidant activity of the leaves of A. tenella is promoted by salicylic acid and can be attributed to the increase in betacyanin content, which are compounds with recognized antioxidant action.