Effect of a novel aromatic cytokinin derivative on phytochemical levels and antioxidant potential in greenhouse grown Merwilla plumbea

In an attempt to elucidate the carry-over effect of cytokinins (CKs) on phytochemical and antioxidant activity of acclimatized plants, tissue culture-derived Merwilla plumbea supplemented with three CK types at four (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 A mu M) concentrations were grown for 6 months ex vitro. Phenolic acids including the hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in M. plumbea were quantified using ultra performance liquid chromatography while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Different concentrations of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and salicylic acid were observed with all the treatments with the exception of non-treated plants. Most phytochemicals (for example, gallic acid, ferulic acid protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid) were highest in plants obtained from 0.25 A mu M meta-topolin riboside (mTR). Likewise, plants derived from 2 A mu M mTR had the highest ORAC (684 A mu mol g(-1) trolox equivalents) activity. Bearing in mind that therapeutic effects of medicinal plants are often associated to their phytochemical content, the current results are an indication on how the intricate in vitro environment (CK type and concentration in this case) affects the growth and general physiology of micropropagated plants especially after acclimatization.