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. 2023 Feb 3;28(3):1497.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28031497.

Effect of Wide-Spectrum Monochromatic Lights on Growth, Phytochemistry, Nutraceuticals, and Antioxidant Potential of In Vitro Callus Cultures of Moringa oleifera

Muhammad Naeem Bajwa  1 , Mehnaz Khanum  1 , Gouhar Zaman  1 , Muhammad Asad Ullah  2 , Umar Farooq  1 , Muhammad Waqas  1 , Nisar Ahmad  3 , Christophe Hano  4 , Bilal Haider Abbasi  1   5
Affiliations

Effect of Wide-Spectrum Monochromatic Lights on Growth, Phytochemistry, Nutraceuticals, and Antioxidant Potential of In Vitro Callus Cultures of Moringa oleifera

Muhammad Naeem Bajwa et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Moringa oleifera, also called miracle tree, is a pharmaceutically important plant with a multitude of nutritional, medicinal, and therapeutic attributes. In the current study, an in-vitro-based elicitation approach was used to enhance the commercially viable bioactive compounds in an in vitro callus culture of M. oleifera. The callus culture was established and exposed to different monochromatic lights to assess the potentially interactive effects on biomass productions, biosynthesis of pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites, and antioxidant activity. Optimum biomass production (16.7 g/L dry weight), total phenolic contents (TPC: 18.03 mg/g), and flavonoid contents (TFC: 15.02 mg/g) were recorded in callus cultures placed under continuous white light (24 h), and of other light treatments. The highest antioxidant activity, i.e., ABTS (550.69 TEAC µM) and FRAP (365.37 TEAC µM), were also noted under white light (24 h). The analysis of phytochemicals confirmed the significant impact of white light exposures on the enhanced biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The enhanced levels of secondary metabolites, i.e., kaempferol (1016.04 µg/g DW), neochlorogenic acid (998.38 µg/g DW), quercetin (959.92 µg/g DW), and minor compounds including luteolin, apigenin, and p-coumaric acid were observed as being highest in continuous white light (24 h with respect to the control (photoperiod). Similarly, blue light enhanced the chlorogenic acid accumulation. This study shows that differential spectral lights demonstrate a good approach for the enhancement of nutraceuticals along with novel pharmacologically important metabolites and antioxidants in the in vitro callus culture of M. oleifera.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera; antioxidant; elicitation; monochromatic light; nutraceutical; phytochemicals; phytochemistry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The morphological changes in the callus culture of M. oleifera kept under different monochromatic lights. ((A) = Control; (B) = White; (C) = Yellow; (D) = Blue; (E) = Red; (F) = Dark; (G) = Green)).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fresh and dry weight produced under different monochromatic lights. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Differential effect of lights on TPC (mg/g DW) and TPP (mg/L) accumulation in in vitro callus cultures. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Differential effect of lights on TFC (mg/g DW) and TFP (mg/L) accumulation in in vitro callus cultures. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5
DPPH free radical scavenging activity of in vitro callus cultures of M. oleifera under light treatments. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 6
Figure 6
In vitro antioxidant FRAP activities of callus culture of M. oleifera under different light treatment. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 7
Figure 7
In vitro antioxidant ABTS activities of a callus culture of M. oleifera under different light treatments. The columns with similar letters are not statistically significant at p < 0.05.
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