Effects of chitosan and salicylic acid on the production of pharmacologically attractive secondary metabolites in callus cultures of Fagonia indica

Fagonia indica is valuable for its multiple uses such as anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant throughout the world. Various biotechnological approaches need to be employed for the sustainable production of plant biomass and its phytochemical content. Elicitation has been shown to be a very potent tool for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in different in vitro cultures. The current study involves the application of various concentrations of chitosan and salicylic acid as elicitors in callus cultures keeping Thiadizuron induced callus as a control. The main aim was to enhance the accumulation of biomass and secondary metabolite contents. The results show that maximum biomass; Fresh weight (FW: 38.0 g/100 mL) and secondary metabolites [Phenolic content (16.9 mu gGAE/mg; Flavonoid content (2.2 mu gQE/mg)] were observed in CHT treated cultures. The SA treated calli also showed better accumulation of biomass (FW: 37.5 g/100 mL) and phytochemicals [Phenolic content (12.29 mu gGAE/mg); Flavonoid content (1.73 mu gQE/mg)] as compared with control. The antioxidant potential was found in correlation with the production of PC/FC and found higher in CHT (94.3%) cultures than SA (90.2%) and control. For instance, the antioxidative enzyme activities [peroxidase (POD: 4.41) and superoxide dismutase (SOD: 0.42 nM/min/mg FW)] were found optimum in CHT treated samples. HPLC analyses revealed significant accumulation (5.5 +/- 0.004 mu g/mg DW) and (5.2 +/- 0.001 mu g/mg DW) of pharmacologically active components in CHT and SA treated samples, respectively. The results showed that both elicitors have potential to enhance the biomass accumulation and polyphenols in callus cultures of Fagonia indica.