Effects of some elicitors on tanshinone production in adventitious root cultures of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel

•Perovskia abrotanoides adventitious root cultures were developed for the first time.•Tanshinones were produced by adventitious roots cultures of P. abrotanoides.•Elicitation with biotic and abiotic elicitors enhanced tanshinones accumulation.•Cryptotanshinone formation was more responsive to elicitors than formation of tanshinone IIA.•Adventitious roots of P. abrotanoides could be an alternative source to produce valuable tanshinones.

In this study, we investigated the effects of different biotic and abiotic elicitors including yeast extract (YE), methyl jasmonate (MJ), AgNO3 and sorbitol on biomass and production of cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA in adventitious roots cultures of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. Elicitors had no significant effect on root dry weight. The highest cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA production was achieved with 200 mg/l YE and 25 μM AgNO3, respectively. YE and AgNO3 were the most effective elicitors to stimulate the tanshinones production while the lowest concentration of MJ, only moderately promoted tanshinone accumulation. Sorbitol was almost ineffective in enhancing tanshinone content. Cryptotanshinone formation was stimulated more significantly by elicitation than tanshinone IIA. The results suggested that elicitors have the ability to stimulate tanshinone content in adventitious roots culture of P. abrotanoides.

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