title: Impacts of methyl jasmonate and phenyl acetic acid on biomass accumulation and antioxidant potential in adventitious roots ofAjuga bracteosaWall ex Benth., a high valued endangered medicinal plant.
abstract: Ajuga bracteosais a medicinally important plant globally used in the folk medicine against many serious ailments. In the present study, effects of two significant elicitors, methyl jasmonate (Me-J) and phenyl acetic acid (PAA) were studied on growth parameters, secondary metabolites production, and antioxidant potential in adventitious root suspension cultures ofA. bracteosa. The results showed a substantial increase in biomass accumulation, exhibiting longer log phases of cultures growth in response to elicitor treatments, in comparison to control. Maximum dry biomass formation (8.88 DW g/L) was recorded on 32nd day in log phase of culture when  0.6 mg/L Me-J was applied; however, PAA at 1.2 mg/L produced maximum biomass (8.24 DW g/L) on day 40 of culture.  Furthermore, we observed the elicitors-induced enhancement in phenolic content (total phenolic content), flavonoid content (total flavonoid content) and antioxidant activity (free radical scavenging activity) in root suspension cultures ofA. bracteosa.Application of 0.6 mg/L and 1.2 mg/L of Me-J, root cultures accumulated higher TPC levels (3.6 mg GAE/g DW) and (3.7 mg GAE/g DW) in the log phase and stationary phase, respectively, while 2.5 mg/L Me-J produced lower levels (1.4 mg GAE/g DW) in stationary phase of growth stages. Moreover, TFC and FRSA values were found in correspondence to TPC values in the respective growth phases at the similar elicitor treatment. Thus, a feasible protocol for establishment of adventitious roots inA. bracteosawas developed and enhancement in biomass and metabolite content in adventitious root was promoted through elicitation.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Abbottabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sabahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Charsadda, KP Pakistan.
authors.forename: Huma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, The University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waqas
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kayani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), Mardan, 23200 KP Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mubarak Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: Adventitious roots; Ajuga; Elicitation; Methyl jasmonate; Phenolics; Phenyl Acetic Acid