The effect of nano elicitors on the expression of the genes involved in alkaloids biosynthetic pathway in Papaver orientale L. suspension culture

Pharmacological properties of Papaver family plants referred to Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIAs) production. The BIAs alkaloid are a diverse group of nitrogenous compounds which have a limited distribution among various plant species. In addition to their medicinal property, they have a crucial role in the plant defense mechanisms. In the current study, the effects of elicitors including Green silver nanoparticles, chemical silver nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene coated by chemical silver nanoparticles, and combination of graphene and green silver nanoparticles investigated on the relative expression of BIAs biosynthesis pathway genes (DBOX, COR, and T6ODM) in the cell suspension of Papaver orientale L. with the concentration of 50 mg/L at 48 and 72 h after the elicitor applications were evaluated. There were significant changes in the relative expression of these genes due to the use of elicitor. However, the highest transcriptional activity of DBOX and COR genes observed at 48 h after utilization of graphene coated by chemical silver nanoparticles with the values of 57.96 and 8.34 fold, respectively. While, there was an up-regulation of T6ODM gene in the application of graphene and Green silver nanoparticles combined with the value of 45.77 fold. These results suggest that application of various elicitors in this plant can accompany by diverse changes in the expression of alkaloids biosynthesis pathway genes, which depends on the toxicity level of elicitors and elicitors’ mediated-activation of signaling paths.