Sahar Zamani - Department of horticultural sciences, Faculty of agricultural sciences, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran
Azim Ghasemnezhad - Department of horticultural sciences, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Mehdi Alizadeh - Department of horticultural sciences, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Mehran Alami - Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Secondary metabolites (SMs) are valuable compounds with different applications in various industries. Nowadays application of suitable precursor and elicitor is an effective method for increasing Secondary Metabolites under in vitro conditions. The effect of phenylalanine as precursor (۰, ۵, ۱۰ and ۲۰ mg/l) and salicylic acid (SA) as elicitor (۰ and ۲۰۰ μmol) on the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and antioxidant activity were investigated in callus culture of artichoke. The changes in total phenols and flavonoids under the effect of treatments were also studied. Based on the obtained results, phenylalanine had a significant effect on the measured parameters. Under the combination effect of salicylic acid (SA) and phenylalanine, all measured parameters except antioxidant activity were significantly influenced. For instance, by using the combination of ۲۰۰ μmol of SA and ۲۰ mg/l phenylalanine, the highest PAL activity (۴.۳۹۸ mmol/ g FW), phenol content (۰.۶۳۸ mg/g FW), flavonoid content (۰.۵۷۷ mg/g FW) and antioxidant activity (۸۹.۴۰۵%) were recorded. According to the results of this experiment, for increasing the medicinal compounds of artichoke, it is recommended to use the stimulant compounds such as phenylalanine and salicylic acid.

Artichoke, medicinal plants, Phenylalanine, Pharmacology, Secondary metabolites