Measuring allometric ratios of plant secondary metabolites as an effective technique and innovative approach for auditing experimental variables in various medicinal plant studies

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Measuring allometric ratios of plant secondary metabolites as an effective technique and innovative approach for auditing experimental variables in various medicinal plant studies

This research introduces a novel methodology for auditing experimental variables by analyzing allometric ratios of plant secondary metabolites (meaning the proportion between two metabolite-dependent variables in response to the application of independent experimental variables). This study suggests that the innovative use of allometric measurements and ratios of plant secondary metabolites is the best method to evaluate the effects of different treatments on determining the growth and development rate and phytochemical and ecophysiological performance of medicinal plants. Traditionally, allometric relationships have been employed primarily to evaluate plant growth and development; however, this research expands their utility to encompass the quantitative and qualitative assessment of genetic and environmental modifications affecting growth, phytochemical treatments, and other independent experimental variables. The authors identify two principal applied techniques derived from their review of existing literature. The first technique involves utilizing the allometric ratio of specific phytochemical components to one another, which is exemplified by the allometric ratio of menthol and menthone to pulgon for evaluating the quality of Mentha piperita L. [1]. The second technique focuses on the allometric ratio of a particular phytochemical component to the overall phytochemical function of the plant, such as the interaction of monoterpenes with sesquiterpenes relative to total essential oil in Lippia citriodora H.B.K. [2], or the ratio of camphor to total essential oil in Artemisia sieberi Besser, [3] to assess biodiversity. This study highlights the potential of allometric ratios of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants as a critical measure for evaluating the influence of independent variables in medicinal plant research. By incorporating this methodology into experimental frameworks, researchers can improve data reliability, thereby enhancing conservation and utilization strategies for medicinal plants. The authors assert that employing allometric ratios can significantly reduce experimental errors and enhance accuracy in phytochemical and biological experiments involving medicinal plants.

References

1. Pourhadi M, Naghdi Badi H, Mehrafarin A, Omidi H, Hajiaghaei R. Allometric ratio of menthol and menthone to pulegone in the essential oil of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) affected by bioregulators. Res J Pharmacogn. 2018; 5(3): 21-29.

2. Rafiee H, Mehrafarin A, Omidi H, Naghdi Badi H, Khalighi-Sigaroodi F. Evaluation of phytochemical and biochemical patterns of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodoraH.B.K.) at different temperatures. Res J Pharmacogn. 2019; 6(3): 9-24.

3. Yazdi Far, S., Naghdi Badi, H., Mehrafarin, A. et al. Chemical composition diversity in wild populations of Artemisia sieberi Besser under the same climate conditions. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-02234-6