Methyl jasmonate induced accumulation of kalopanaxsaponin I in Nigella sativa

Nigella sativa plants growing in hydroponic systems produce increased amounts of kalopanaxsaponin I upon treatment with methyl jasmonate. To further address this observation on molecular level we cloned and functionally characterized the β-amyrin synthase gene (NsβAS1), which encodes one of the key enzymes of triterpene saponin biosynthesis.