Zahra Tofighi
1, Mohsen Amini
2, Mahzad Shirzadi
1, Hamideh Mirhabibi
1, Negar Ghazi Saeedi
1, Narguess Yassa
1*1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicinal Plant Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicinal Plant Research Center , Tehran University of Medi cal Sciences, Tehran , Iran
Abstract
Background: The suspension culture of Vigna radiata was selected for
biotransformation of hydroquinone to its β-D-glucoside form (arbutin) as an
important therapeutic and cosmetic compound.
Methods:
The biotransformation efficiency of a Vigna radiata cell culture in
addition to different concentrations of hydroquinone (6-20 mg/100 ml) was
investigated after 24 hours in comparison to an Echinacea purpurea cell
culture and attempts were made to increase the efficacy of the process by
adding elicitors.
Results:
Arbutin was accumulated in cells and found in the media only in insignificant
amounts. The arbutin content of the biomass extracts of V. radiata and E.
purpurea was different, ranging from 0.78 to 1.89% and 2.00 to 3.55% of dry
weight, respectively. V. radiata demonstrated a bioconversion efficiency
of 55.82% after adding 8 mg/100 ml precursor, which was comparable with result
of 69.53% for E. purpurea cells after adding 10 mg/100 ml hydroquinone
(P>0.05). In both cultures, adding hydroquinone in two portions with a
24-hour interval increased the biotransformation efficiency. Different
concentrations of methyl jasmonate (25, 50, and 100 µM) and chitosan (50 and
100 µg/ml) as elicitors increased the bio-efficiency percentage of the V.
radiata culture in comparison with the flask containing only hydroquinone.
Conclusion: This is
the first report of the biotransformation possibility of V. radiata cultures.
It was observed the bioconversion capacity increased by adding hydroquinone in
two portions, which was comparable to adding an elicitor.