Induction of secondary metabolites in cell culture of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Plant tissue and cell culture are being used as a stable method to investigate plant secondary metabolites widely and production is being performed with high speed and low cost under in vitro conditions and independent of climatic conditions. Secondary metabolites have many applications in food industries, sanitary and pharmacy fields. According to abundant applications of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) in industries and according to the economic importance of this medicinal plant, replication and propagation of this herb has special momentous. Cell suspension culture can increase produced components and also can make new components in the plant. The aim of this research was to perform cell culture for investing secondary metabolites of Mentha pulegium and comparing it with the native one .Materials and methods: The MS medium was used for suspension culture. For providing basic cellular suspension culture, the best-derived callus culture was used without agar to investigate quantitative materials, ۴ levels of yeast extract elicitor (۲۰, ۴۰, ۶۰ and ۸۰ mg/l) and salicylic acid in ۴ levels (۲, ۴, ۶ and ۸ mg/l) were used. Obtained extracts were analyzed by GC-MS.Result: Statistical analysis showed that the amount of cis-pulegone oxide, terpinolene, ۳-Octanol and iso-pulegol acetate was more than mentioned compounds in the natural plant as control. The secondary metabolites were increased by cell culture containing elicitors in Mentha pulegume.

Keywords:

Medicinal herbs , pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) , secondary metabolite , suspension culture