Effect of light wavelength on cell growth, content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in cell suspension cultures of Thevetia peruviana

- Different light wavelengths did not present effect in cell growth.
- Cell cultures of T. peruviana present a strictly heterotrophic cell growth.
- Light has a deleterious effect on the production of phenols and antioxidant capacity.
- Cells of T. peruviana exhibit higher antioxidant capacity compare to in vivo plants.

Thevetia peruviana (T. peruviana) has been considered as a potentially important plant for industrial and pharmacological application. Among the number of compounds which are produced by T. peruviana, antioxidants and polyphenols are of particular interest due to their benefits on human health. Cell suspension cultures of T. peruviana were established under different conditions: 1) constant illumination (24 h/day) at different light wavelengths (red, green, blue, yellow and white), 2) darkness and 3) control (12 h/12 h: day light/dark) to investigate their biomass, substrate uptake, polyphenols production and oxidizing activity. The results showed biomass concentrations between 17.1 g dry weight (DW)/l (green light) and 18.2 g DW/l (control) after 13 days. The cultures that grew under green light conditions consumed completely all substrates after 10 days, while other cultures required at least 13 days or more. The total phenolic content was between 7.21 and 9.46 mg gallic acid (GA)/g DW for all light conditions. In addition the ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid antioxidant activity ranged from 5.41-6.58 mg ascorbic acid (AA)/g DW and 82.93-110.39 μmol Trolox/g DW, respectively. Interestingly, the samples which grew under the darkness presented a higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity when compared to the light conditions. All together, these results demonstrate the extraordinary effect of different lighting conditions on polyphenols production and antioxidant compounds by T. peruviana.