Influence of sodium salicylate on rosmarinic acid, carnosol and carnosic acid accumulation by Salvia officinalis L. shoots grown in vitro

Abstract

To evaluate sodium salicylate (NaSA) as an elicitor of rosmarinic acid (RA) and phenolic diterpenes, carnosol (C) and carnosic acid (CA) production, in a culture of Salvia officinalis shoots. In sage shoots grown in vitro, 28 polyphenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phenolic diterpenes) were identified. In shoots treated for 1 week with increasing NaSA concentrations, the content of C increased from 2.3 in control to 5.7 mg g(-1) DW in shoots treated with 500 A mu M NaSA. In shoots that were recovered on basal medium for 3 weeks, the maximal amount of C (14 mg/g(-1) DW) was with 150 A mu M NaSA treatment. In treated and recovered shoots, the increase in C was accompanied with a decrease in CA, resulting in 1.9-fold increase in the C/CA ratio. Accumulation of RA was not affected by the NaSA treatment. However, elicitation by NaSA was accompanied with growth retardation. NaSA can improve C production in sage shoot culture, probably by stimulating the conversion of CA to C.