Rhodiola rosea L., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Hypericum perforatum L. plants have long been known as sources of biologically active compounds with pronounced pharmacological effects. However, the use of plants from wild populations cannot be a stable and reproducible source of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. One of the promising solutions to this problem is the use of in vitro callus cultures, which synthesize a complex of plant metabolites, in particular, polyphenols, with proven bioactivity. The aim of the study was to optimize the composition of nutrient media with different growth regulators for the initiation and proliferation of callus of three medicinal plant species, as well as to evaluate the flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of the resulting cultures. Callus cultures were induced on Murashige and Skoog medium with the addition of 30 g/L sucrose and various combinations of growth regulators: 0.2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L NAA; 0.2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L 2,4-D; 0.2 mg/L KIN + 2 mg/L NAA; 0.2 mg/L KIN + 2 mg/L 2,4-D. The dry matter content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were determined. It was found that the optimal conditions for the induction of callus tissues of R. rosea are a combination of 0.2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L 2,4-D, S. baicalensis — 0.2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L NAA, H. perforatum — 0.2 mg/L KIN + 2 mg/L NAA. The highest content of flavonoids was found in the callus tissue of S. baicalensis — 42.46±3.94 mg RE/g dry weight (DW), while the content of these compounds in R. rosea and H. perforatum was 29.71±1.77 mg RE/g DW and 8.69±1.39 mg RE/g DW, respectively. A strong correlation was observed between flavonoid content and antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.77), confirming the participation of polyphenolic compounds in the biological activity of callus cultures. Thus, optimal conditions for the initiation and proliferation of callus of R. rosea, S. baicalensis and H. perforatum were determined. The obtained cultures of S. baicalensis and R. rosea were characterized by a significant content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, which opens up potential prospects for their use in the biotechnological production of pharmaceuticals.
Keywords: Rhodiola rosea L., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Hypericum perforatum L., callus, growth regulators, biologically active compounds, flavonoids, antioxidant activity
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