The effects of fungal and yeast elicitors on the production of tropane alkaloids in Hyoscyamus niger plantlets under in vitro condition

Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family that like to other plants of this family such as Atropa and Datura produces pharmaceutical tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine. These medicinal valuable compounds have anticholinergic effects, and antispasmodic and sedative properties. One of the most cost-effective strategies to increase production of active compounds in medicinal plants is the application of the biotic and abiotic elicitors. In this study, the effect of Piriformospora indica and Yarrowia lipolytica on the growth and production of tropane alkaloids and also antioxidant enzymes activity was investigated. Henbane plantlets were placed in two mediums with fungus or yeast for two weeks. The results showed that the growth and antioxidant enzymes activities were increased in plants that were treated with fungus and yeast in compare with control plantlets. Hyoscyamine content in shoot and scopolamine content in both root and shoot of the fungus treated plantlets were significantly increased in comparison to control. Also, the amount of scopolamine in roots and especially shoots of treated plants with yeast was significantly elevated in comparing with control. Therefore, P. indica and Y. lipolytica, can be used as appropriate biotic elicitors, for increasing biomass and pharmaceutical secondary metabolites in Henbane. Keywords: Antioxidant enzyme, Fungal elicitor, Henbane, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine