A Comparative Study of Apigenin Content and Antioxidant Potential of CosmosBipinnatus Transgenic Root Culture

Soroush Bijani; Zahra Gharari; Alireza Ahmadnia; Hossein Danafar; Ali Sharafi

doi:10.18502/pbr.v7i2.7361

Soroush Bijani Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Zahra Gharari Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
Alireza Ahmadnia Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Hossein Danafar Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Ali Sharafi Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/pbr.v7i2.7361

Keywords: Apigenin, Antioxidant, Cosmos bipinnatus, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)

Abstract

Background: Flavonoid-derived components have been studied for their therapeutic properties.

Objectives: Apigenin has shown remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features, so we should have a reliable source of apigenin.

Methods: In this study, we used high-performance liquid chromatography method to compare the amount of apigenin in flower, root, leaf, and stem of three varieties of osmos bipinnatus, i.e., ‘Dazzler,’ ‘Xanthos,’ ‘Sensation Pinkie’, and in transgenic root culture of C. bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’. Besides, the antioxidant activity of C. bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’ transgenic root culture was evaluated using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay.

Results: Dazzler variety flowers showed the highest recovery of apigenin with 0.799 mg/100 mg Dry Weight (DW). However, the Sensation pinkie variety leafs had the lowest recovery with 0.089 mg/100mg. Apigenin content in transformed roots (0.797 mg/100 mg DW) of C. bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’ was significantly higher than non-transformed roots (0.42 mg/100 mg DW). The ethanolic extract of hairy root showed the FRAP value of 668.1 µM Fe2+/mg that was comparatively more than the wild root FRAP value (426.2 µM Fe2+/mg).

Conclusion: In conclusion, the presence of apigenin in high amounts in hairy root cultures of C. bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’ indicates its great potential for the future pharmaceutical industry.