EFFECTS OF 6-BENZYLADENINE AND KINETIN ON GROWTH AND SECONDARY METABOLITES OF HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA THUNB. (SAURURACEAE)

The plant height, root length, fresh weight, morphological characters, phenolics, and volatiles of Houttuynia cordata, cultured in the presence of different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) or kinetin (KT) in the culture medium, were analyzed. Treatment with 6-BA and KT markedly inhibited the height and root length of H. cordata, and significantly promoted fresh weight. Treatment with either 6-BA or KT stimulated non-normal plantlet development. Treatment with either 6-BA or KT markedly inhibited the accumulation of the phenolics chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercitrin, and isoquerietrin by H. cordata, and significantly promoted the accumulation of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, decanal, linalool, decanol, and borneol. Treatment with 6-BA inhibited the accumulation of bornyl acetate, beta-myrcene and cis-3-hexen-1-ol, whereas KT inhibited the accumulation of cineole. These findings provide theoretical support for improving the concentration of secondary metabolites in H. cordata, of potential value in the pharmacological utilization and exploitation of these compounds.