title: Conservation strategy for Pelargonium sidoides DC: phenolic profile and pharmacological activity of acclimatized plants derived from tissue culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae), a popular medicinal plant used in folk medicine in the treatment of respiratory-related infections has gained international prominence due to its usage in several herbal formulations. This has led to high demand and the subsequent decimation of wild populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Using plant tissue culture techniques, Pelargonium sidoides plants were cloned in vitro, acclimatized under greenhouse conditions and evaluated for their phytochemical content and pharmacological activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phenolic content in extracts of in vitro-derived, greenhouse-acclimatized and wild Pelargonium sidoides plants were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts against bacterial and fungal strains were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similarities in phenolic profiles were identified confirming the chemical signatures that characterize Pelargonium sidoides plants. Extracts of greenhouse-acclimatized and wild plants exhibited comparable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the study highlights the potential of integrating plant tissue culture technologies in conservation strategies of medicinal plants. In particular, the results strongly suggest the feasibility of both large-scale cultivation and plant part substitution as alternative solutions to the current destructive overharvesting practices of wild Pelargonium sidoides populations.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mack
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moyo
authors.forename: Adeyemi O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aremu
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gruz
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subrtová
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szüčová
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doležal
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000146:Acids, Carbocyclic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D031316:Pelargonium; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D035281:Plant Tubers; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D000146:Acids, Carbocyclic; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: 2,2–Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl; 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride; 6-(-3-Methoxybenzylamino)-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine; AAPH; ANOVA; Analysis of variance; Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; DMRT; DPPH; Duncan’s multiple range test; MIC; MS; Medicinal plants; MemTR; Micropropagation; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Murashige and Skoog medium; ORAC; Oxygen radical absorbance capacity; PGR; PPF; Photon flux density; Phytochemical composition; Plant growth regulator; Plant part substitution; TE; Trolox equivalents; UPLC; Ultra performance liquid chromatography