Solomatina T.O., · Silanteva S.A., · GrigorchukV.P., ·Tikhonova O.A., · Khopta A.A., ·Brodovskaya E.V., · Bulgakov V.P. · Veremeichik G.N.
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 2026
The present work is devoted to the study of dynamic changes in the biosynthesis of anthraquinones (AQs) during multiple years of cultivation in the calli of the medicinal plant Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae). Eight AQ derivatives were identified only in the 1-year-old calli. Only 4 components were detected in the 25-year-old calli and adventitious root extracts. No AQ was detected in the leaf or stem extracts. We have shown that 1-year-old calli contain the major compound, AQ, presumably of the “emodin type”. “Emodin”-type anthraquinones contain a radical on the A-ring, and their presence in the genus Rubia has not been previously demonstrated. However, our mass spectrometry data suggest subsequent confirmation by NMR spectroscopy. The expression patterns of the enzymes involved in AQ biosynthesis were correlated with the AQ content. Untreated 1-year-old calli produce up to 0.5% DW, whereas 25-year-old calli produce up to 0.03% DW. In addition, derivatives of ferulic acid, coumaroylquinic acid, caffeoylquinic acid, and rutin were detected in 1-year-old calli. In the leaf extracts, all the listed compounds were found, with the exception of the ferulic acid derivatives, which were specific to the 1-year-old calli. The extract of 25-yr-old calli did not contain any phenylpropanoids. During long-term cultivation, the level of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid increased significantly, almost to the level of the native plant, whereas the level of IAA as well as the expression of IAA marker genes in the 1-year-old culture was significantly lower. Further research into auxin homeostasis will allow the optimization of conditions for the productive long-term cultivation of plant cell cultur
