Effect of methyl jasmonate, IAA and BAP on callogenesis potential, content of some phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of Teucrium polium L.

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of plant hormones (IAA and BAP) and methyl jasmonate elicitor on callogenesis potential of Teucrium polium leaf explants and the content of some phenolic compounds (total phenols, o-diphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavones) and its antioxidant capacity. Leaf explants prepared from hydroponically-grown plants were cultured on MS medium with separate and combined concentrations of IAA (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg L-1) and BAP (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg L-1). The treatments with the highest percentage of callogenesis and fresh and dry weight were selected as the best hormonal conditions to evaluate the effect of methyl jasmonate (50, 100 and 200 μM) on phenolic derivatives. Eight weeks after callus growth, the content of various phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts (based on DPPH and FRAP assays) were measured. Although a higher percentage of callogenesis was observed in all hormonal treatments than the control, conditions "IAA0.1 + BAP1" and "IAA1 + BAP1.5" mg L-1 were with 100% callus induction. The highest fresh and dry weight of calli were in the combined treatments "IAA0.1 + BAP0.5", "IAA0.1 + BAP1", "IAA1 + BAP0.5" and "IAA1 + BAP1.5" mg L-1. The results of the second part of the experiment showed that the highest amount of phenolic compound and all its derivatives except o-diphenol was seen under the treatment of 50 μM methyl-jasmonate- in all hormonal treatments. A strong correlation was also observed between the antioxidant potentials DPPH (r2 = -0.735) and FRAP (r2 = 0.876) with the content of phenolic compounds. Therefore, methyl jasmonate as a potent elicitor can increase the synthesis of phenolic derivatives and the antioxidant capacity in Teucrium callus. So this method would be an effective technique for the supply of medicinal-phenolic compounds.