title: Stimulatory Effects of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl on Chlorogenic Acids Biosynthesis inCentella asiaticaCells.
abstract: Centella asiaticais a perrenial herb that grows in tropical regions with numerous medicinal properties mostly attributed to the presence of pentacyclic triterpenoids. Interestingly, this plant also possess a significant amount of phenylpropanoid-derived chlorogenic acids (CGAs) that have recently been reported to confer neuroprotective properties. In a biotechnological attempt to increase the biosynthesis of CGA-derivatives in culturedCentellacells, acibenzolar-S-methyl was applied as a xenobiotic inducer in combination with quinic acid and shikimic acid as precursor molecules. Applying a semi-targeted metabolomics-based approach, time and concentration studies were undertaken to evaluate the effect of the manipulation on cellular metabolism leading to CGA production. Phytochemical extracts were prepared using methanol and analyzed using a UHPLC-qTOF-MS platform. Data was processed and analyzed using multivariate data models. A total of four CGA-derivatives, annotated astrans-5-feruloylquinic acid, 3,5 di-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl-4-O-malonylquinic acid (irbic acid) and 3-caffeoyl, 5-feruloylquinic acid, were found to be upregulated by the acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the induction of CGA derivatives in this species. Contrary to expectations, the effects of precursor molecules on the levels of the CGAs were insignificant. However, a total of 16 metabolites, including CGA derivatives, were up-regulated by precursor treatment. Therefore, this study shows potential to biotechnologically manipulateC. asiaticacells to increase the production of these health beneficial CGAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg Auckland Park, South Africa.
authors.forename: Efficient N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ncube
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of JohannesburgAuckland Park, South Africa; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Biosciences, Natural Products and Agroprocessing GroupPretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Steenkamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg Auckland Park, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ntakadzeni E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Madala
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg Auckland Park, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Dubery
keywords: Centella asiatica; acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM); chlorogenic acids; elicitation; quinic acid; shikimic acid