Effect of Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid Elicitors on the Production of Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Capacity of Teucrium polium L. in-vitro

Teucrium polium, from Lamiaceae family, is a medicinal plant. Due to overexploitation, low distribution and habitat destruction, this plant, is facing extinction. Plant biotechnology and tissue culture is an alternative method for plant secondary metabolites production. The present study aimed to enhance the production of secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity of Teucrium polium L. using methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid elicitors. Leaf explants from hydroponically cultured 4-month-old plants were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) containing 2, 4-dichlorofenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) in concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mg/L alone or in combination with benzyl aminopurin (BAP) at, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L concentrations. According to the results, the best callus induction (100%) was achieved at MS medium containing 1.5 and 2 mg/L BAP. Calli obtained from this treatment were subsequently treated with Methyl Jasmonate or Salicylic Acid at 0, 50 and 100 μg/L concentrations. After 40 days, the content of phenolics, flavonoid compounds and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replications. Based on biochemical assays, the greatest total phenol content, flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity belong to calli treated with 100 μg/L acid salicylic (SA) and after that to cali treated with 50 μg/L methyl jasmonate(MeJa), while the difference between them was significant. The results of means comparison showed applying 100 μg/L SA on calli in medium with 1.5 mg/L BAP had the greatest effect on total flavonoid content. Therefore, the use of appropriate concentrations of these elicitors can play an effective role in enhancing the medicinal compounds in Teucrium polium.