Biotechnological development and biological activity of Balkan endemic Sideritis scardica Griesb.

In vitro culture of Balkan endemic medicinal plant Sideritis scardica was previously initiated and different approaches for influencing the productivity of polyphenolics have been applied [1]. The present work discusses the spectrophotometric and HPTLC phenolics and flavonoids phytochemical profiling, DPPH radical scavenging activity and lipase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay of total methanol extract of plant material of the in vitro cultured plant. The following plant growth regulators were added to the control medium: 0.2 mg/L benzyl adenine (BA) + 0.02 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (Sm); 0.2 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L NAA (Sr_1), 0.2 mg/L BA + 1.0 mg/L NAA (Sr_2), 0.5 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L NAA (Sr_3) and 0.5 mg/L BA + 1.0 mg/L NAA (Sr_4). As a general observation all treatments increased significantly the survival rate of explants, as well as polyphenolics productions as compared with the non-treated control. Strong relation between polyphenolic content and radical scavenging capacity were recorded and one probable lipase and and 2 – 4 components with acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity were identified. As a result of the work in vitro culture systems for optimal biomass production and secondary metabolites yield were selected.

This work was financed by the PhytoBalk project (BSRP, grant No. IZEBZ0_142989).

[1] Koleva P, Petrova N, Krumova S, Velikova V, Aneva I, Evstatieva L, Wolfram E, Danova K (2016) Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381