Phytochemical, antioxidant, enzyme activity and antifungal properties of <i>Satureja khuzistanica in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> explants stimulated by some chemical elicitors

Abstract

<b>Context:</b> <i>Satureja khuzistanica</i> Jamzad. (Lamiaceae), is known for its antifungal and antioxidant compounds, especially rosmarinic acid (RA).<b>Objective:</b> The study examines the effect of elicitors on RA production and phytochemical properties of <i>S. khuzistanica.</i><b>Materials and methods:</b> <i>In vitro</i> plants were treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). <i>In vivo</i> plants were treated with MWCNTs and salicylic acid (SA). RA was measured by HPLC. Catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were quantified. DPPH and β-carotene were assayed in <i>in vivo</i> extracts. The antifungal effects of extracts were evaluated against <i>Fusarium solani</i> K <b>(</b>FsK).<b>Results:</b> The highest RA contents of <i>in vitro</i> plants were 50 mg/L MeJA (140.99 mg/g DW) and 250 mg/L MWCNTs (140.49 mg/g DW). The highest <i>in vivo</i> were 24 h MWCNTs (7.13 mg/g DW) and 72 h SA (9.12 mg/g DW). The maximum POD and APX activities were at 100 mg/L MeJA (5 and 4 mg protein, respectively). CAT had the highest activities at 50 mg/L MeJA (2 mg protein). DPPH and β-carotene showed 50% and 80% inhibition, respectively. The FsK aggregation was the lowest for <i>in vitro</i> extract in number of conidia [1.82 × 10¹⁰], fresh weight (6.51 g) and dry weight (0.21 g) that proved RA inhibitory effects. The callus reduces FsK growth diameter to 2.75 on the 5th day.<b>Discussion and conclusions:</b> Application of MeJA, SA, and MWCNTSs could increase RA in <i>S. khuzistanica</i> and highlighted potential characteristics in pharmaceutical and antifungal effects.