In vitro plant regeneration of Eclipta alba and increased production of coumestans

Enhanced wedelolactone content in in vitro-raised genetically uniform Wedelia chinensis under the influence of CuSO4

In the present study, we addressed the imperative for potent anticancer agents through Wedelia chinensis, a medicinal plant abundant in the robust antihepatotoxic and antitumor compound wedelolactone. Hindrances in conventional propagation methods due to cross-pollination and habitat degradation prompted us to pioneer in vitro rapid multiplication using plant tissue culture. Optimal outcomes were attained employing Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.5 mg/L) and Kinetin (KN) (5.0 mg/L), yielding 97.67% shoot regeneration and 81.67% rooting from nodal explants. Transplanted plantlets exhibited a 92% survival rate. We established a wedelolactone extraction protocol using toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid (5:4:1) for High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis, trailblazing wedelolactone quantification and 2C DNA analysis in W. chinensis via flow cytometry. Experiments under heavy metal stress with CuSO4 unveiled physiological responses, with peak wedelolactone content [193.90 μg/g dry weight (dw)] in vitro at 75 μM CuSO4, surpassing in vivo levels (89.95 μg/g dw) by 116%. By pioneering successful in vitro rapid multiplication and enhanced wedelolactone content, we bridge a critical gap in the conservation and production of this medicinal plant. Our findings not only offer a sustainable means of propagation but also present a viable strategy for elevating the yield of potent bioactive molecules like wedelolactone, holding immense promise for the development of novel therapeutic interventions and addressing the pressing healthcare challenges of our time.

Induction of Polyploidy and Metabolic Profiling in the Medicinal Herb Wedelia chinensis

Wedelia chinensis, which belongs to the Asteraceae family, is a procumbent, perennial herb. It has medicinal anti-inflammatory properties and has been traditionally used as folk medicine in East and South Asia for treating fever, cough and phlegm. In Taiwan, W. chinensis is a common ingredient of herbal tea. Previous studies showed that the plant leaves contain four major bioactive compounds, wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone, luteolin and apigenin, that have potent antihepatoxic activity, and are thus used as major ingredients in phytopharmaceutical formulations. In this study, we set up optimal conditions for induction of ploidy in W. chinensis. Ploidy can be an effective method of increasing plant biomass and improving medicinal and ornamental characteristics. By using flow cytometry and chicken erythrocyte nuclei as a reference, the DNA content (2C) or genome size of W. chinensis was determined to be 4.80 picograms (pg) in this study for the first time. Subsequently, we developed the successful induction of five triploid and three tetraploid plants by using shoot explants treated with different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 g/L) of colchicine. No apparent morphological changes were observed between these polyploid plants and the diploid wild-type (WT) plant, except that larger stomata in leaves were found in all polyploid plants as compared to diploid WT. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify the four index compounds (wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone, luteolin, apigenin) in these polyploid plants, and fluctuating patterns were detected. This is the first report regarding polyploidy in the herbal plant W. chinensis.

Preliminary immunomodulatory activities of methanol extracts of Eclipta alba and Centella asiatica

An attempt has been made to assess the immunomodulatory activity of methanol extracts of whole plant of E. alba (1.6% wedelolactone) and C. asiatica (0.18% of asiaticoside) at five dose levels (dose-response relationship) ranging from 100 to 500 mg/kg body wt. using carbon clearance, antibody titer and cyclophosphamide immunosuppression parameters. In the case of E. alba, the phagocytic index and antibody titer increased significantly and the F ratios of the phagocytic index and WBC count were also significant. Regression analysis showed linearity in patterns of the dose-response relationship, greatest in the case of the phagocytic index, moderate in the WBC count and lowest in the antibody titer. For C. asiatica, significant increases in the phagocytic index and total WBC count were observed and the F ratio of the phagocytic index was also significant. Regressed values revealed maximum linearity in the case of the phagocytic index, moderate linearity in the total WBC count and lowest linearity in the antibody response.