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Das S, Kwon M, Kim JY. Enhancement of specialized metabolites using CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology in medicinal plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1279738. [PMID: 38450402 PMCID: PMC10915232 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1279738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Plants are the richest source of specialized metabolites. The specialized metabolites offer a variety of physiological benefits and many adaptive evolutionary advantages and frequently linked to plant defense mechanisms. Medicinal plants are a vital source of nutrition and active pharmaceutical agents. The production of valuable specialized metabolites and bioactive compounds has increased with the improvement of transgenic techniques like gene silencing and gene overexpression. These techniques are beneficial for decreasing production costs and increasing nutritional value. Utilizing biotechnological applications to enhance specialized metabolites in medicinal plants needs characterization and identification of genes within an elucidated pathway. The breakthrough and advancement of CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing in improving the production of specific metabolites in medicinal plants have gained significant importance in contemporary times. This article imparts a comprehensive recapitulation of the latest advancements made in the implementation of CRISPR-gene editing techniques for the purpose of augmenting specific metabolites in medicinal plants. We also provide further insights and perspectives for improving metabolic engineering scenarios in medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Das
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Moonhyuk Kwon
- Division of Life Science, Anti-aging Bio Cell Factory Regional Leading Research Center (ABC-RLRC), Research Institute of Molecular Alchemy (RIMA), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yean Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
- Nulla Bio R&D Center, Nulla Bio Inc., Jinju, Republic of Korea
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Shinde S, Balasubramaniam AK, Mulay V, Saste G, Girme A, Hingorani L. Recent Advancements in Extraction Techniques of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) with Insights on Phytochemicals, Structural Significance, Pharmacology, and Current Trends in Food Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:40982-41003. [PMID: 37970011 PMCID: PMC10633886 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera (WS), is an ayurvedic botanical plant with numerous applications in dietary supplements and traditional medicines worldwide. Due to the restorative qualities of its roots, WS has potent therapeutic value in traditional Indian (Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha) and modern medicine recognized as the "Indian ginseng". The presence of phytochemical bioactive compounds such as withanolides, withanosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds has an important role in the therapeutic and nutritional properties of WS. Thus, the choice of WS plant part and extraction solvents, with conventional and modern techniques, plays a role in establishing WS as a potential nutraceutical product. WS has recently made its way into food supplements and products, such as baked goods, juices, beverages, sweets, and dairy items. The review aims to cover the key perspectives about WS in terms of plant description, phytochemistry, structural significance, and earlier reported extraction methodologies along with the analytical and pharmacological landscape in the area. It also attempts to iterate the key limitations and further insights into extraction techniques and bioactive standardization with the regulatory framework. It presents a key to the future development of prospective applications in foods such as food supplements or functional foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Shinde
- Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
| | | | - Vallabh Mulay
- Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
| | - Ganesh Saste
- Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
| | - Aboli Girme
- Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
| | - Lal Hingorani
- Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
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Kumar P, Banik SP, Goel A, Chakraborty S, Bagchi M, Bagchi D. A critical assessment of the whole plant-based phytotherapeutics from Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to safety and efficacy vis-a-vis leaf or root extract-based formulation. Toxicol Mech Methods 2023; 33:698-706. [PMID: 37533233 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2242933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, popularly known as Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is well acclaimed for its health-enhancing effects, including its potent immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-tumorigenic properties. The prime biological effectors of these attributes are a diverse group of ergostane-based steroidal lactones termed withanolides. Withanones and withanosides are distributed differentially across the plant body, whereas withanolides and withanones are known to be more abundant in leaves, while withanosides are found exclusively in the roots of the plants. Standardized W. somnifera extract is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)-affirmed, however, moderate to severe toxic manifestations may occur at high dosages. Withaferin A, which also happens to be the primary bioactive ingredient for the effectiveness of this plant. There have been contrasting reports regarding the distribution of withaferin A in W. somnifera. While most reports state that the roots of the plant have the highest concentrations of this phytochemical, several others have indicated that leaves can accumulate withaferin A in proportionately higher amounts. A comprehensive survey of the available reports suggests that the biological effects of Ashwagandha are grossly synergistic in nature, with many withanolides together mediating the desired physiological effect. In addition, an assorted formulation of withanolides can also neutralize the toxic effects (if any) associated with withaferin A. This mini-review presents a fresh take on the recent developments regarding the safety and toxicity of the plant, along with a critical assessment of the use of roots against leaves as well as whole plants to develop therapeutic formulations. Going by the currently available scientific evidence, it is safe to infer that the use of whole plant formulations instead of exclusively root or leaf recipes may present the best possible option for further exploration of therapeutic benefits from this novel medicinal plant.HighlightsTherapeutic potential of withanolides owes to the presence of α,β unsaturated ketone which binds to amines, alcohols, and esters and 5β, 6β epoxy group which react with side chain thiols of proteins.At concentrations above NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level), the same mechanisms contribute towards toxicity of the molecule.Although withanosides are found exclusively in roots, whole plants have higher contents of withanones and withanolides.Whole plant-based formulations have other metabolites which can nullify the toxicity associated with roots.Extracts made from whole plants, therefore can holistically impart all therapeutic benefits as well as mitigate toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar
- R&D Department, Chemical Resources (CHERESO), Panchkula, Haryana, India
| | - Samudra P Banik
- Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad College, Kolkata, India
| | - Apurva Goel
- Regulatory Department, Chemical Resources (CHERESO), Panchkula, Haryana, India
| | - Sanjoy Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, New York City College of Technology/CUNY, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | | | - Debasis Bagchi
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, and Dept of Psychology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA
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Srivastava Y, Tripathi S, Mishra B, Sangwan NS. Cloning and homologous characterization of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GGPPS) from Withania somnifera revealed alterations in metabolic flux towards gibberellic acid biosynthesis. PLANTA 2022; 256:4. [PMID: 35648276 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-03912-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of a novel geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene (WsGGPPS) in planta resulted in increased levels of gibberellic acid and decrease in withanolide content. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, the herb from family Solanaceae is one of the most treasured medicinal plant used in traditional medicinal systems owing to its unique stockpile of pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies in this plant were well established, but the genes affecting the regulation of biosynthesis of major metabolites were not well elucidated. In this study cloning and functional characterization of a key enzyme in terpenoid biosynthetic pathway viz. geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.29) gene from Withania somnifera was performed. The full length WsGGPPS gene contained 1,104 base pairs that encode a polypeptide of 365 amino acids. The quantitative expression analysis suggested that WsGGPPS transcripts were expressed maximally in flower tissues followed by berry tissues. The expression levels of WsGGPPS were found to be regulated by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA). Amino acid sequence alignment and phylogenetic studies suggested that WsGGPPS had close similarities with GGPPS of Solanum tuberosum and Solanum pennellii. The structural analysis provided basic information about three dimensional features and physicochemical parameters of WsGGPPS protein. Overexpression of WsGGPPS in planta for its functional characterization suggested that the WsGGPPS was involved in gibberellic acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashdeep Srivastava
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Sandhya Tripathi
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | | | - Neelam S Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India.
- School of Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Jant-Pali, Mahendragarh, Haryana, 123031, India.
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Lei Y, Harris AJ, Wang A, Zhao L, Luo M, Li J, Chen H. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of genes in the triterpene saponin biosynthesis pathway in leaves and roots of
Ardisia kteniophylla
A. DC., a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8920. [PMID: 35600685 PMCID: PMC9120893 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ardisia kteniophylla (Primulaceae) is highly valued in traditional medicine due to its production of the pharmacologically active secondary metabolites, especially triterpenoid saponins in its roots. Although A. kteniophylla is very important in traditional medicine, the genetic basis for its production of triterpenoid saponins remains largely unknown. Therefore, we sequenced transcriptomes of A. kteniophylla to identify putative genes involved in production of triterpenoid saponins in both leaves and roots, and we used the transcriptomes to compare expression levels of these genes between the two organ systems. The production of triterpenoid saponins in plants is usually induced through hormonal signaling on account of the presence of pests. Thus, we treated plants with the hormones salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and used quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) to investigate expression levels of genes involved in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis. In total, we obtained transcriptomes for leaf and root tissues representing 52,454 unigenes. Compared with the leaf transcriptome, we found that 6092 unigenes were upregulated in the root, especially enzymes involved in the direct synthesis of triterpenoid saponins, while 6001 genes appeared downregulated, including those involved in precursory steps in the triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis pathway. Our results from qRT‐PCR indicate that genes within the upstream parts of the triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis pathway may be upregulated under exposure to the applied hormones, but downstream genes are downregulated. This suggests possible conflicting effects of SA and MeJA in promoting the production of secondary metabolites on the one hand, and, on the other, limiting plant growth processes to devote energy to combating pests. We also performed an analysis of transcription factors (TFs) and found 997 unique transcripts belonging to 16 TF families. Our data may help to facilitate future work on triterpene saponins biosynthesis in A. kteniophylla with potential pharmacological and molecular breeding applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Lei
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
- Wuhan Guishan Mountain Scenic Management Office Wuhan China
| | - AJ Harris
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Aihua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf (Nanning Normal University) Ministry of Education Nanning China
| | - Liyun Zhao
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Vegetation Ecosystem Restoration on Islands and Coastal Zones South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Ming Luo
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Ji Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Hongfeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
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Srivastava A, Siddiqui S, Ahmad R, Mehrotra S, Ahmad B, Srivastava AN. Exploring nature's bounty: identification of Withania somnifera as a promising source of therapeutic agents against COVID-19 by virtual screening and in silico evaluation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:1858-1908. [PMID: 33246398 PMCID: PMC7755033 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1835725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are etiological agents of extreme human and animal infection resulting in abnormalities primarily in the respiratory tract. Presently, there is no defined COVID-19 intervention and clinical trials of prospective therapeutic agents are still in the nascent stage. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (WS), is an important medicinal plant in Ayurveda. The present study aimed to evaluate the antiviral potential of selected WS phytoconstituents against the novel SARS-CoV-2 target proteins and human ACE2 receptor using in silico methods. Most of the phytoconstituents displayed good absorption and transport kinetics and were also found to display no associated mutagenic or adverse effect(s). Molecular docking analyses revealed that most of the WS phytoconstituents exhibited potent binding to human ACE2 receptor, SAR-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins as well as the two main SARS-CoV-2 proteases. Most of the phytoconstituents were predicted to undergo Phase-I metabolism prior to excretion. All phytoconstituents had favorable bioactivity scores with respect to various receptor proteins and target enzymes. SAR analysis revealed that the number of oxygen atoms in the withanolide backbone and structural rearrangements were crucial for effective binding. Molecular simulation analyses of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and papain-like protease with Withanolides A and B, respectively, displayed a stability profile at 300 K and constant RMSDs of protein side chains and Cα atoms throughout the simulation run time. In a nutshell, WS phytoconstituents warrant further investigations in vitro and in vivo to unravel their molecular mechanism(s) and modes of action for their future development as novel antiviral agents against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Srivastava
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Sahabjada Siddiqui
- Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Rumana Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Sudhir Mehrotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Bilal Ahmad
- Research Cell, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - A. N. Srivastava
- Department of Pathology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
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Molecular characterization of three CYP450 genes reveals their role in withanolides formation and defense in Withania somnifera, the Indian Ginseng. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1602. [PMID: 35102209 PMCID: PMC8803918 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05634-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The medicinal properties of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are attributed to triterpenoid steroidal lactones, withanolides, which are proposed to be derived from phytosterol pathway, through the action of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes. Here, we report the characterization of three transcriptome-mined CYP450 genes (WsCYP749B1, WsCYP76 and WsCYP71B10), which exhibited induced expression in response to methyl jasmonate treatment indicating their role in secondary metabolism. All three WsCYP450s had the highest expression in leaf compared to other tissues. In planta characterization of WsCYP450s through virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) and transient overexpression approaches and subsequent metabolite analysis indicated differential modulation in the accumulation of certain withanolides in W. somnifera leaves. While WsCYP749B1-vigs significantly enhanced withaferin A (~ 450%) and reduced withanolide A (~ 50%), its overexpression drastically led to enhanced withanolide A (> 250%) and withanolide B (> 200%) levels and reduced 12-deoxywithastramonolide (~ 60%). Whereas WsCYP76-vigs led to reduced withanolide A (~ 60%) and its overexpression increased withanolide A (~ 150%) and reduced 12-deoxywithastramonolide (~ 60%). Silencing and overexpression of WsCYP71B10 resulted in significant reduction of withanolide B (~ 50%) and withanolide A (~ 60%), respectively. Further, while VIGS of WsCYP450s negatively affected the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and compromised tolerance to bacteria P. syringae DC3000, their overexpression in W. somnifera and transgenic tobacco led to improved tolerance to the bacteria. Overall, these results showed that the identified WsCYP450s have a role in one or several steps of withanolides biosynthetic pathway and are involved in conferring tolerance to biotic stress.
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Kaur K, Dolker D, Behera S, Pati PK. Critical factors influencing in vitro propagation and modulation of important secondary metabolites in Withania somnifera (L.) dunal. PLANT CELL, TISSUE AND ORGAN CULTURE 2022; 149:41-60. [PMID: 35039702 PMCID: PMC8754361 DOI: 10.1007/s11240-021-02225-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is a valuable medicinal plant in the Solanaceae family. It is commonly known as Ashwagandha and is widely distributed around the globe. It has multiple pharmacological properties owing to the existence of diverse secondary metabolites viz., withanolide A, withanolide D, withaferin A, and withanone. It is in great demand in the herbal industry because of its extensive use. In this background, the major challenge lies in the rapid multiplication of elite cultivars of W. somnifera in order to produce genetically and phytoconstituents uniform plant material for pharmaceutical industries. Thus it is necessary to explore various biotechnological approaches for the clonal mass propagation and synthesis of pharmaceutically important constituents in W. somnifera. Though there are several studies on in vitro propagation on W. somnifera, yet many factors that critically influence the in vitro response and withanolides production need to be fine-tuned in the pretext of the existing knowledge. The current review focuses on the advancements and prospects in biotechnological interventions to meet the worldwide demands for W. somnifera and its bioactive compounds. This update on in vitro studies on W. somnifera will be useful to many researchers, entrepreneurs, and herbal industries looking for its in vitro mass multiplication and scientific utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005 Punjab India
| | - Dechen Dolker
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005 Punjab India
| | - Shashikanta Behera
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005 Punjab India
| | - Pratap Kumar Pati
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005 Punjab India
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Thorat SA, Kaniyassery A, Poojari P, Rangel M, Tantry S, Kiran KR, Joshi MB, Rai PS, Botha AM, Muthusamy A. Differential Gene Expression and Withanolides Biosynthesis During in vitro and ex vitro Growth of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:917770. [PMID: 35774803 PMCID: PMC9237602 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.917770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) is a medicinally important plant with withanolides as its major bioactive compounds, abundant in the roots and leaves. We examined the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on direct organogenesis, adventitious root development, withanolide biosynthetic pathway gene expression, withanolide contents, and metabolites during vegetative and reproductive growth phases under in vitro and ex vitro conditions. The highest shooting responses were observed with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (2.0 mg L-1) + Kinetin (KIN) (1.5 mg L-1) supplementation. Furthermore, BAP (2.0 mg L-1) + KIN (1.5 mg L-1) + gibberellic acid (GA3) (0.5 mg L-1) exhibited better elongation responses with in vitro flowering. Half-strength MS medium with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (1.5 mg L-1) exhibited the highest rooting responses and IBA (1.0 mg L-1) with highest fruits, and overall biomass. Higher contents of withaferin A (WFA) [∼8.2 mg g-1 dry weight (DW)] were detected in the reproductive phase, whereas substantially lower WFA contents (∼1.10 mg g-1 DW) were detected in the vegetative phase. Cycloartenol synthase (CAS) (P = 0.0025), sterol methyltransferase (SMT) (P = 0.0059), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductase (DXR) (P = 0.0375) genes resulted in a significant fold change in expression during the reproductive phase. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed metabolites that were common (177) and distinct in reproductive (218) and vegetative (167) phases. Adventitious roots cultured using varying concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.5 mg L-1) + IBA (1.0 mg L-1) + GA3 (0.2 mg L-1) exhibited the highest biomass, and IAA (0.5 mg L-1) + IBA (1.0 mg L-1) exhibited the highest withanolides content. Overall, our findings demonstrate the peculiarity of withanolide biosynthesis during distinct growth phases, which is relevant for the large-scale production of withanolides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Ashok Thorat
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Arya Kaniyassery
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Poornima Poojari
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Melissa Rangel
- Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Shashikala Tantry
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Kodsara Ramachandra Kiran
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Manjunath B. Joshi
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Padmalatha S. Rai
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Anna-Maria Botha
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Annamalai Muthusamy
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
- *Correspondence: Annamalai Muthusamy,
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Behl A, Mishra A, Sharma GP. A Critical Scientific Review on Withania somnifera, Garcinia cambogia and
Curcumin Supplements: Food Forensics Perspective. CURRENT NUTRITION & FOOD SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1573401317666210910114721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:
Food forensics is an emerging branch that applies scientific knowledge for the verification
and authentication of food supplements. The term “dietary supplement” refers to a diverse
set of preparations that are deemed to be essential for the well-being of the human body.
These supplements consist of various physiologically active substances that produce effects on
the body. However, a major issue with these supplements is that they are neither considered as
medicines nor as a food products. Due to this, such food supplements are prone to adulteration
and counterfeiting. In this review, three widely used supplements, namely Curcuma longa,
Withania somnifera, and Garcinia cambogia supplements, are considered. Chemistry, pharmacology,
and benefits of three are being discussed along with the analytical techniques for their
analysis. Chromatographic techniques are popular for the examination of dietary supplements.
Several such analytical techniques are being used to detect and identify the physiologically active
constituents as well as adulterants in dietary products. This review intends to demonstrate
the overall issues regarding dietary supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Behl
- Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Amarnath Mishra
- Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - G. P. Sharma
- National Food Laboratory,
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Das R, Rauf A, Akhter S, Islam MN, Emran TB, Mitra S, Khan IN, Mubarak MS. Role of Withaferin A and Its Derivatives in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease: Recent Trends and Future Perspectives. Molecules 2021; 26:3696. [PMID: 34204308 PMCID: PMC8234716 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive decline and memory deficits due to beta-amyloid deposition (Aβ) and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. To date, approximately 47 million people worldwide have AD. This figure will rise to an estimated 75.6 million by 2030 and 135.5 million by 2050. According to the literature, the efficacy of conventional medications for AD is statistically substantial, but clinical relevance is restricted to disease slowing rather than reversal. Withaferin A (WA) is a steroidal lactone glycowithanolides, a secondary metabolite with comprehensive biological effects. Biosynthetically, it is derived from Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Acnistus breviflorus (Gallinero) through the mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways. Mounting evidence shows that WA possesses inhibitory activities against developing a pathological marker of Alzheimer's diseases. Several cellular and animal models' particulates to AD have been conducted to assess the underlying protective effect of WA. In AD, the neuroprotective potential of WA is mediated by reduction of beta-amyloid plaque aggregation, tau protein accumulation, regulation of heat shock proteins, and inhibition of oxidative and inflammatory constituents. Despite the various preclinical studies on WA's therapeutic potentiality, less is known regarding its definite efficacy in humans for AD. Accordingly, the present study focuses on the biosynthesis of WA, the epidemiology and pathophysiology of AD, and finally the therapeutic potential of WA for the treatment and prevention of AD, highlighting the research and augmentation of new therapeutic approaches. Further clinical trials are necessary for evaluating the safety profile and confirming WA's neuroprotective potency against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajib Das
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; (R.D.); (S.M.)
| | - Abdur Rauf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Anbar 23561, Pakistan;
| | - Saima Akhter
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong 4318, Bangladesh;
| | - Mohammad Nazmul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong 4318, Bangladesh;
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong 4381, Bangladesh
| | - Saikat Mitra
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; (R.D.); (S.M.)
| | - Ishaq N. Khan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar 25100, Pakistan;
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Li C, Wang M. Application of Hairy Root Culture for Bioactive Compounds Production in Medicinal Plants. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2021; 22:592-608. [PMID: 32416672 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200516155146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Medicinal plants are rich sources of natural bioactive compounds used to treat many diseases. With the development of the health industry, the market demands for Chinese medicine have been rapidly increasing in recent years. However, over-utilization of herbal plants would cause serious ecological problems. Therefore, an effective approach should be developed to produce the pharmaceutically important natural drugs. Hairy root culture induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes has been considered to be an effective tool to produce secondary metabolites that are originally biosynthesized in the roots or even in the aerial organs of mature plants. This review aims to summarize current progress on medicinal plant hairy root culture for bioactive compounds production. It presents the stimulating effects of various biotic and abiotic elicitors on the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Synergetic effects by combination of different elicitors or with other strategies are also included. Besides, the transgenic system has promising prospects to increase bioactive compounds content by introducing their biosynthetic or regulatory genes into medicinal plant hairy root. It offers great potential to further increase secondary metabolites yield by the integration of manipulating pathway genes with elicitors and other strategies. Then advances on two valuable pharmaceuticals production in the hairy root cultures are illustrated in detail. Finally, successful production of bioactive compounds by hairy root culture in bioreactors are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caili Li
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meizhen Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
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Namdeo AG, Ingawale DK. Ashwagandha: Advances in plant biotechnological approaches for propagation and production of bioactive compounds. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 271:113709. [PMID: 33346029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Withania somnifera is one of the most extensively delved Ayurvedic medicine. Apart from rejuvenation and increasing longevity, it has several other properties such as immunomodulation, anti-cancer, anti-stress and neuroprotection. Because of its prevailing use and increasing demand, it becomes prudent to scientifically evaluate and document both its propagation and production of desired phytoconstituents. AIM OF THE STUDY This review aims to highlight the research progress achieved on various biotechnological and tissue culture aspects of Withania somnifera and to cover up-to-date information regarding in-vitro propagation and production of withanolides. MATERIALS AND METHODS Significant published studies were identified for the years 2000-2018 using Elsevier-Science Direct, Pubmed and Google scholar and several research studies in our laboratory. Following keywords such as "plant extracts", "in vitro cultures", "callus and suspension culture", "micropropagation", "hairy root cultures" were used. Further, "Withania somnifera", "secondary metabolites specially withanolides", "molecular techniques" and "in vitro conservation" were used to cross-reference the keywords. RESULTS Ashwagandha comprises a broad spectrum of phytochemicals with a wide range of pharmacological properties. W. somnifera seeds have reduced viability and germination rates; thus, its regular cultivation method fails to achieve commercial demands mainly for the production of desired phytoconstituents. Cultivation of plant cells/tissues under in vitro conditions and development of various biotechnological strategies will help to build an attractive alternative to provide adequate quality and quantity raw materials. Recently, a large number of in vitro protocols has developed for W. somnifera not only for its propagation but for the production of secondary metabolites as well. Present work highlights a variety of biotechnological strategies both for prompt propagation and production of different bioactive secondary metabolites. CONCLUSION The present review focuses on the development and opportunities in various biotechnological approaches to accomplish the global demand of W. somnifera and its secondary metabolites. This review underlines the advances in plant biotechnological approaches for the propagation of W. somnifera and production of its bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay G Namdeo
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Erandawane, Pune, 411038, India.
| | - Deepa K Ingawale
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Erandawane, Pune, 411038, India
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Naß J, Abdelfatah S, Efferth T. Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 84:153482. [PMID: 33611213 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants. The steroidal lactone withanolide A (WA) from Withania somnifera may be a promising alternative. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as model to explore WA's anti-depressive and anti-stress potential. METHODS C. elegans wildtype (N2) and deficient strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109 and MT9772) were used to assess oxidative, osmotic or heat stress as measured by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), determination of lifespan, and mRNA expression of serotonin receptor (ser-1, ser-4, ser-7) and serotonin transporter genes (mod-5). The protective effect of WA was compared to fluoxetine as clinically established antidepressant. Additionally, WA's effect on lifespan was determined. Furthermore, the binding affinities and pKi values of WA, fluoxetine and serotonin as natural ligand to Ser-1, Ser-4, Ser-7, Mod-5 and their human orthologues proteins were calculated by molecular docking. RESULTS Baseline oxidative stress was higher in deficient than wildtype worms. WA and fluoxetine reduced ROS levels in all strains except MT9772. WA and fluoxetine prolonged survival times in wildtype and mutants under osmotic stress. WA but not fluoxetine increased lifespan of all heat-stressed C. elegans strains except DA2100. Furthermore, WA but not fluoxetine extended lifespan in all non-stressed C. elegans strains. WA also induced mRNA expression of serotonin receptors and transporters in wildtype and mutants. WA bound with higher affinity and lower pKi values to all C. elegans and human serotonin receptors and transporters than serotonin, indicating that WA may competitively displaced serotonin from the binding pockets of these proteins. CONCLUSION WA reduced stress and increased lifespan by ROS scavenging and interference with the serotonin system. Hence, WA may serve as promising candidate to treat depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Naß
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sara Abdelfatah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Jadaun JS, Kushwaha AK, Sangwan NS, Narnoliya LK, Mishra S, Sangwan RS. WRKY1-mediated regulation of tryptophan decarboxylase in tryptamine generation for withanamide production in Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). PLANT CELL REPORTS 2020; 39:1443-1465. [PMID: 32789542 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02574-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
WsWRKY1-mediated transcriptional modulation of Withania somnifera tryptophan decarboxylase gene (WsTDC) helps to regulate fruit-specific tryptamine generation for production of withanamides. Withania somnifera is a highly valued medicinal plant. Recent demonstration of novel indolyl metabolites called withanamides in its fruits (berries) prompted us to investigate its tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), as tryptophan is invariably a precursor for indole moiety. TDC catalyzes conversion of tryptophan into tryptamine, and the catalytic reaction constitutes a committed metabolic step for synthesis of an array of indolyl metabolites. The TDC gene (WsTDC) was cloned from berries of the plant and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized for its catalytic attributes. Catalytic and structural aspects of the enzyme indicated its regulatory/rate-limiting significance in generation of the indolyl metabolites. Novel tissue-wise and developmentally differential abundance of WsTDC transcripts reflected its preeminent role in withanamide biogenesis in the fruits. Transgenic lines overexpressing WsTDC gene showed accumulation of tryptamine at significantly higher levels, while lines silenced for WsTDC exhibited considerably depleted levels of tryptamine. Cloning and sequence analysis of promoter of WsTDC revealed the presence of W-box in it. Follow-up studies on isolation of WsWRKY1 transcription factor and its overexpression in W. somnifera revealed that WsTDC expression was substantially induced by WsWRKY1 resulting in overproduction of tryptamine. The study invokes a key role of TDC in regulating the indolyl secondary metabolites through enabling elevated flux/supply of tryptamine at multiple levels from gene expression to catalytic attributes overall coordinated by WsWRKY1. This is the first biochemical, molecular, structural, physiological and regulatory description of a fruit-functional TDC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Singh Jadaun
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Amit Kumar Kushwaha
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Neelam S Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana, 123031, India.
| | - Lokesh Kumar Narnoliya
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Smrati Mishra
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
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Tripathi S, Sangwan RS, Mishra B, Jadaun JS, Sangwan NS. Berry transcriptome: insights into a novel resource to understand development dependent secondary metabolism in Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2020; 168:148-173. [PMID: 30767228 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is considered as Rasayana in Indian systems of medicine. This study reports a novel transcriptome of W. somnifera berries, with high depth, quality and coverage. Assembled and annotated transcripts for nearly all genes related with the withanolide biosynthetic pathway were obtained. Tissue-wide gene expression analysis reflected almost similar definitions for the terpenoid pathway in leaf, root and berry tissues with relatively higher abundance of transcripts linked to steroid, phenylpropanoid metabolism as well as flavonoid metabolism in berries. The metabolome map generated from the data embodied transcripts from 143 metabolic pathways connected together and mediated collectively by about 1792 unique enzyme functions specific to berry, leaf and root tissues, respectively. Transcripts specific to cytochrome p450 (CYP450), methyltransferases and glycosyltransferases were distinctively located in a tissue specific manner and exhibited a complex network. Significant distribution of transcription factor genes such as MYB, early light inducible protein (ELI), minichromosome maintenance1, agamous, deficiens and serum response factor (MADS) and WRKY etc. was observed, as the major transcriptional regulators of secondary metabolism. Validation of the assembly was ascertained by cloning WsELI, which has a light dependent regulatory role in development. Quantitative expression of WsELI was observed to be considerably modulated upon exposure to abiotic stress and elicitors. Co-relation of over-expression of WsELI, may provide new aspects for the functional role of ELI proteins in plants linked to secondary metabolism. The study offers the first comprehensive and comparative evaluation of W. somnifera transcriptome data between the three tissues and across other members of Solanaceae (Nicotiana, Solanum and Capsicum) with respect to major pathways and their metabolome regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Tripathi
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by Act of Parliament), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by Act of Parliament), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Bhawana Mishra
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by Act of Parliament), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jyoti Singh Jadaun
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Neelam Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by Act of Parliament), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Interdisciplinary and Applied Life Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh 123031, Haryana, India
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Tomar V, Beuerle T, Sircar D. A validated HPTLC method for the simultaneous quantifications of three phenolic acids and three withanolides from Withania somnifera plants and its herbal products. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1124:154-160. [PMID: 31200247 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A simple, rapid and selective high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of three withanolides (withaferin A, withanone and withanolide A) and three phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid and benzoic acid) from different parts (root, stem and leaf) of Withania somnifera and its two commercially available polyherbal formulations. The extraction efficiency of withanolides and phenolic acids were tested using two solvents, chloroform and methanol, respectively. HPTLC separation was performed on silica coated aluminium plates Si 60F254; using toluene, ethyl acetate and acetic acid (60:40:4). The samples were quantitated at 231 nm. The purity and identity of peaks of all the six analytes were confirmed by matching Rf values and UV-spectrum with authentic standards. The identity of three withanolides was further confirmed by positive ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) analyses. The developed method was validated for sensitivity, linearity, reproducibility, accuracy, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) following the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). The method was found to be linear (r > 0.99) in the range of 50-2000 ng/band for benzoic acid and 50-1000 ng/band for the other five studied metabolites. This simple and accurate HPTLC method provided enhanced resolution of studied analytes as compared to other phytoconstituents present in W. somnifera extracts. It has also been successfully applied in the analysis and quantification of two polyherbal formulations containing W. somnifera plant parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Tomar
- Plant Molecular Biology Group, Biotechnology Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Till Beuerle
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstrasse 1, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Debabrata Sircar
- Plant Molecular Biology Group, Biotechnology Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
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Pal S, Rastogi S, Nagegowda DA, Gupta MM, Shasany AK, Chanotiya CS. RNAi of Sterol Methyl Transferase1 Reveals its Direct Role in Diverting Intermediates Towards Withanolide/Phytosterol Biosynthesis in Withania somnifera. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:672-686. [PMID: 30541044 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The medicinal properties of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are accredited to a group of compounds called withanolides. 24-Methylene cholesterol is the intermediate for sterol biosynthesis and a proposed precursor of withanolide biogenesis. However, conversion of 24-methylene cholesterol to withaferin A and other withanolides has not yet been biochemically dissected. Hence, in an effort to fill this gap, an important gene, encoding S-adenosyl l-methionine-dependent sterol-C24-methyltransferase type 1 (SMT1), involved in the first committed step of sterol biosynthesis, from W. somnifera was targeted in the present study. Though SMT1 has been characterized in model plants such as Nicotiana tabacum and Arabidopsis thaliana, its functional role in phytosterol and withanolide biosynthesis was demonstrated for the first time in W. somnifera. Since SMT1 acts at many steps preceding the withanolide precursor, the impact of this gene in channeling of metabolites for withanolide biosynthesis and its regulatory nature was illustrated by suppressing the gene in W. somnifera via the RNA interference (RNAi) approach. Interestingly, down-regulation of SMT1 in W. somnifera led to reduced levels of campesterol, sitosterol and stigmasterol, with an increase of cholesterol content in the transgenic RNAi lines. In contrast, SMT1 overexpression in transgenic N. tabacum enhanced the level of all phytosterols except cholesterol, which was not affected. The results established that SMT1 plays a crucial role in W. somnifera withanolide biosynthesis predominantly through the campesterol and stigmasterol routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaifali Pal
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, PO CIMAP, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Postal Staff College Area, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shubhra Rastogi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dinesh A Nagegowda
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Madan Mohan Gupta
- Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, PO CIMAP, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Shasany
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, PO CIMAP, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Postal Staff College Area, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Chandan Singh Chanotiya
- Laboratory of Aromatic Plants and Chiral Separation, Chemical Sciences Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Rehman S, Keefover-Ring K, Haq IU, Dilshad E, Khan MI, Akhtar N, Mirza B. Drier Climatic Conditions Increase Withanolide Content of Withania coagulans Enhancing Its Inhibitory Potential Against Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2018; 188:460-480. [PMID: 30536034 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-018-02933-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths in men and there is a growing interest in identifying natural compounds for its management. We analyzed bioactive withanolides in Withania coagulans from 11 different sites in Pakistan and evaluated the antiprostate cancer activities of leaf extracts from two sites with the greatest amounts. Total withanolide concentration differed by ~ 17-fold between sites, ranging from 1.01 ± 0.01 mg/g dry weight (mean ± SE) at Jand to 16.83 ± 0.02 mg/g at Mohmand Agency. Different tissues varied in their total withanolide content with roots having the least (0.42 ± 0.07 mg/g dry weight) and leaves the most (2.45 ± 0.45 mg/g). We found strong inverse correlations between site annual precipitation versus withanolide amounts in fruits (r = - 0.84, P = 0.001), leaves (r = - 0.88, P < 0.001), roots (r = - 0.91, P < 0.001), and total (r = - 0.89, P < 0.001), but not stems (r = - 0.20, P = 0.556). Extracts made from Mianwali and Mohmand Agency leaves possessed high anticancer activity in terms of increased induction of apoptosis and decreased cell viability, cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of different prostate cancer cell lines. These results are useful for the selection of withanolide-rich germplasm with potent anticancer properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiya Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Ken Keefover-Ring
- Departments of Botany and Geography, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ihsan Ul Haq
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Erum Dilshad
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Nosheen Akhtar
- National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Mirza
- Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Tripathi N, Shrivastava D, Ahmad Mir B, Kumar S, Govil S, Vahedi M, Bisen PS. Metabolomic and biotechnological approaches to determine therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: A review. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 50:127-136. [PMID: 30466971 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Withania somnifera, a high value medicinal plant is a major source of pharmaceutically important active compounds withanolides. Withania somnifera has been used in ayurveda as health restorative and anabolic agent besides having anti-arthritic, antidepressant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-stress, neuroprotective and cardio-protective activities. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE The mining of the compound(s) of interest offers opportunity to identify desired attributes in the therapeutic area of interest. Metabolomic has become an important tool in the field of pharmacological and functional genomics of medicinal plants. The analysis supports the information regarding differential outline of the gene expression for increasing important withanolides viz. withanolide A and withaferin A in W. somnifera. STUDY DESIGN The bioinformatics and biotechnological approaches viz. tissue culture, genetic transformation, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, gene mining and metabolomic studies have opened new windows about engineering of withanolide production. METHODS Target and network analysis for maximum therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera have been determined by employing Genemania software for finding interactions among various human genes that are being affected by active constituents. RESULTS Some of the major bioactive compounds of Withania somnifera have been discussed on protein-protein, protein-DNA and genetic interactions with respect to gene and protein expression data, protein domains, metabolic profiling, root organ culture, genetic transformation and phenotypic screening profiles CONCLUSION: The implementation of latest bioinformatic tools in combination with biotechnological techniques for breeding platforms are important in conservation of medicinal plant species in danger. The current review is based on molecular and in vitro methodologies employed in W. somnifera for accepting their importance in the improvement of this valuable medicinal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niraj Tripathi
- Biotechnology Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur 482004, India
| | - Divya Shrivastava
- School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur 302017, India
| | - Bilal Ahmad Mir
- Department of Botany, Satellite Campus Kargil, University of Kashmir, J&K, Srinagar-190006, India
| | - Shailesh Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur 303002, India
| | - Sumit Govil
- School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur 302017, India
| | - Maryam Vahedi
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, University of Tehran 3391653755, Iran
| | - Prakash S Bisen
- School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur 302017, India; School of Studies in Biotechnology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474001, India.
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Singh R, Gupta P, Khan F, Singh SK, Mishra T, Kumar A, Dhawan SS, Shirke PA. Modulations in primary and secondary metabolic pathways and adjustment in physiological behaviour of Withania somnifera under drought stress. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 272:42-54. [PMID: 29807605 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In general medicinal plants grown under water limiting conditions show much higher concentrations of secondary metabolites in comparison to control plants. In the present study, Withania somnifera plants were subjected to water stress and data related to drought tolerance phenomenon was collected and a putative mechanistic concept considering growth responses, physiological behaviour, and metabolite content and gene expression aspects is presented. Drought induced metabolic and physiological responses as well as drastic decrease in CO2 uptake due to stomatal limitations. As a result, the consumption of reduction equivalents (NADPH2+) for CO2 assimilation via the calvin cycle declines significantly resulting in the generation of a large oxidative stress and an oversupply of antioxidant enzymes. Drought also results in the shifting of metabolic processes towards biosynthetic activities that consume reduction equivalents. Thus, biosynthesis of reduced compounds (isoprenoids, phenols and alkaloids) is enhanced. The dynamics of various metabolites have been discussed in the light of gene expression analysis of control and drought treated leaves. Gene encoding enzymes of pathways leading to glucose, fructose and fructan production, conversion of triose phosphates to hexoses and hexose phosphorylation were up-regulated in the drought stressed leaves. The down-regulated Calvin cycle genes were co-ordinately regulated with the down-regulation of chloroplast triosephosphate/phosphate translocator, cytoplasmic fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and fructose bisphosphatase. Expression of gene encoding Squalene Synthase (SQS) was highly upregulated under drought stress which is responsible for the diversion of carbon flux towards withanolides biosynthesis from isoprenoid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Singh
- CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
| | - Pankhuri Gupta
- CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Furqan Khan
- CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Susheel Kumar Singh
- CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Tripti Mishra
- CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Anil Kumar
- CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Sunita Singh Dhawan
- CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
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Kaur A, Singh B, Ohri P, Wang J, Wadhwa R, Kaul SC, Pati PK, Kaur A. Organic cultivation of Ashwagandha with improved biomass and high content of active Withanolides: Use of Vermicompost. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194314. [PMID: 29659590 PMCID: PMC5901777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) has recently been studied extensively for its health-supplementing and therapeutic activities against a variety of ailments. Several independent studies have experimentally demonstrated pharmaceutical potential of its active Withanolides, Withaferin A (Wi-A), Withanone (Wi-N) and Withanolide A (Wil-A). However, to promote its use in herbal industry, an environmentally sustainable cultivation and high yield are warranted. In modern agriculture strategies, there has been indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers to boost the crop-yield, however the practice largely ignored its adverse effect on the quality of soil and the environment. In view of these, we attempted to recruit Vermicompost (Vcom, 20-100%) as an organic fertilizer of choice during the sowing and growing phases of Ashwagandha plants. We report that (i) pre-soaking of seeds for 12 h in Vermicompost leachate (Vcom-L) and Vermicompost tea (Vcom-T) led to higher germination, (ii) binary combination of pre-soaking of seeds and cultivation in Vcom (up to 80%) resulted in further improvement both in germination and seedling growth, (iii) cultivated plants in the presence of Vcom+Vcom-L showed higher leaf and root mass, earlier onset of flowering and fruiting and (iv) leaves from the Vcom+Vcom-L cultivated plants showed higher level of active Withanolides, Withanone (Wi-N), Withanolide A (Wil-A) and Withaferin A (Wi-A) and showed anticancer activities in cell culture assays. Taken together, we report a simple and inexpensive method for improving the yield and pharmaceutical components of Ashwagandha leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Baldev Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Puja Ohri
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jia Wang
- Drug Discovery and Assets Innovation Lab, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- Drug Discovery and Assets Innovation Lab, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Sunil C. Kaul
- Drug Discovery and Assets Innovation Lab, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- * E-mail: (AK); (PKP); (SCK)
| | - Pratap Kumar Pati
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
- * E-mail: (AK); (PKP); (SCK)
| | - Arvinder Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
- * E-mail: (AK); (PKP); (SCK)
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Comparative Study of Withanolide Biosynthesis-Related miRNAs in Root and Leaf Tissues of Withania somnifera. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2018; 185:1145-1159. [PMID: 29476318 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-018-2702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Withania somnifera, popularly known as Indian ginseng, is one of the most important medicinal plants. The plant is well studied in terms of its pharmaceutical activities and genes involved in biosynthetic pathways. However, not much is known about the regulatory mechanism of genes responsible for the production of secondary metabolites. The idea was to identify miRNA transcriptome responsible for the regulation of withanolide biosynthesis, specifically of root and leaf tissues individually. The transcriptome data of in vitro culture of root and leaf tissues of the plant was considered for miRNA identification. A total of 24 and 39 miRNA families were identified in root and leaf tissues, respectively. Out of these, 15 and 27 miRNA families have shown their involvement in different biological functions in root and leaf tissues, respectively. We report here, specific miRNAs and their corresponding target genes for corresponding root and leaf tissues. The target genes have also been analyzed for their role in withanolide metabolism. Endogenous root-miR5140, root-miR159, leaf-miR477, and leaf-miR530 were reported for regulation of withanolide biosynthesis.
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24
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Shasmita, Rai MK, Naik SK. Exploring plant tissue culture inWithania somnifera(L.) Dunal:in vitropropagation and secondary metabolite production. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2017; 38:836-850. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2017.1416453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shasmita
- Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India
| | - Manoj K. Rai
- Department of Environmental Science, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, India
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Tripathi S, Sangwan RS, Narnoliya LK, Srivastava Y, Mishra B, Sangwan NS. Transcription factor repertoire in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) through analytics of transcriptomic resources: Insights into regulation of development and withanolide metabolism. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16649. [PMID: 29192149 PMCID: PMC5709440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are important regulators of cellular and metabolic functions including secondary metabolism. Deep and intensive RNA-seq analysis of Withania somnifera using transcriptomic databases provided 3532 annotated transcripts of transcription factors in leaf and root tissues, belonging to 90 different families with major abundance for WD-repeat (174 and 165 transcripts) and WRKY (93 and 80 transcripts) in root and leaf tissues respectively, followed by that of MYB, BHLH and AP2-ERF. Their detailed comparative analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsicum annum, Nicotiana tabacum and Solanum lycopersicum counterparts together gave interesting patterns. However, no homologs for WsWDR representatives, LWD1 and WUSCHEL, were observed in other Solanaceae species. The data extracted from the sequence read archives (SRA) in public domain databases were subjected to re-annotation, re-mining, re-analysis and validation for dominant occurrence of WRKY and WD-repeat (WDR) gene families. Expression of recombinant LWD1 and WUSCHEL proteins in homologous system led to enhancements in withanolide content indicating their regulatory role in planta in the biosynthesis. Contrasting expression profiles of WsLWD1 and WsWUSCHEL provided tissue-specific insights for their participation in the regulation of developmental processes. The in-depth analysis provided first full-spectrum and comparative characteristics of TF-transcripts across plant species, in the perspective of integrated tissue-specific regulation of metabolic processes including specialized metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Tripathi
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament),, AcSIR Campus, CSIR-HRDC, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Sector-81 (Knowledge City), PO Manauli, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 140306, Punjab, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament),, AcSIR Campus, CSIR-HRDC, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lokesh Kumar Narnoliya
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Yashdeep Srivastava
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Bhawana Mishra
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament),, AcSIR Campus, CSIR-HRDC, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Neelam Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (An Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament),, AcSIR Campus, CSIR-HRDC, Sector-19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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26
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Singh AK, Kumar SR, Dwivedi V, Rai A, Pal S, Shasany AK, Nagegowda DA. A WRKY transcription factor from Withania somnifera regulates triterpenoid withanolide accumulation and biotic stress tolerance through modulation of phytosterol and defense pathways. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017. [PMID: 28649699 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera produces pharmacologically important triterpenoid withanolides that are derived via phytosterol pathway; however, their biosynthesis and regulation remain to be elucidated. A jasmonate- and salicin-inducible WRKY transcription factor from W. somnifera (WsWRKY1) exhibiting correlation with withaferin A accumulation was functionally characterized employing virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression studies combined with transcript and metabolite analyses, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. WsWRKY1 silencing resulted in stunted plant growth, reduced transcripts of phytosterol pathway genes with corresponding reduction in phytosterols and withanolides in W. somnifera. Its overexpression elevated the biosynthesis of triterpenoids in W. somnifera (phytosterols and withanolides), as well as tobacco and tomato (phytosterols). Moreover, WsWRKY1 binds to W-box sequences in promoters of W. somnifera genes encoding squalene synthase and squalene epoxidase, indicating its direct regulation of triterpenoid pathway. Furthermore, while WsWRKY1 silencing in W. somnifera compromised the tolerance to bacterial growth, fungal infection, and insect feeding, its overexpression in tobacco led to improved biotic stress tolerance. Together these findings demonstrate that WsWRKY1 has a positive regulatory role on phytosterol and withanolides biosynthesis, and defense against biotic stress, highlighting its importance as a metabolic engineering tool for simultaneous improvement of triterpenoid biosynthesis and plant defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anup Kumar Singh
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Sarma Rajeev Kumar
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Varun Dwivedi
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Avanish Rai
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Shaifali Pal
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Ajit K Shasany
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Dinesh A Nagegowda
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Allalasandra, GKVK Post, Bengaluru, 560065, India
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27
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Jadaun JS, Sangwan NS, Narnoliya LK, Singh N, Bansal S, Mishra B, Sangwan RS. Over-expression of DXS gene enhances terpenoidal secondary metabolite accumulation in rose-scented geranium and Withania somnifera: active involvement of plastid isoprenogenic pathway in their biosynthesis. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2017; 159:381-400. [PMID: 27580641 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) is one of the most important aromatic plants and is well known for its diverse perfumery uses. Its economic importance is due to presence of fragrance rich essential oil in its foliage. The essential oil is a mixture of various volatile phytochemicals which are mainly terpenes (isoprenoids) in nature. In this study, on the geranium foliage genes related to isoprenoid biosynthesis (DXS, DXR and HMGR) were isolated, cloned and confirmed by sequencing. Further, the first gene of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (GrDXS), was made full length by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategy. GrDXS contained a 2157 bp open reading frame that encoded a polypeptide of 792 amino acids having calculated molecular weight 77.5 kDa. This study is first report on heterologous expression and kinetic characterization of any gene from this economically important plant. Expression analysis of these genes was performed in different tissues as well as at different developmental stages of leaves. In response to external elicitors, such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, light and wounding, all the three genes showed differential expression profiles. Further GrDXS was over expressed in the homologous (rose-scented geranium) as well as in heterologous (Withania somnifera) plant systems through genetic transformation approach. The over-expression of GrDXS led to enhanced secondary metabolites production (i.e. essential oil in rose-scented geranium and withanolides in W. somnifera). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the expression profile of the three genes related to isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways operated in rose-scented geranium as well as functional characterization study of any gene from rose-scented geranium through a genetic transformation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Singh Jadaun
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Neelam S Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Lokesh K Narnoliya
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Neha Singh
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Shilpi Bansal
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Bhawana Mishra
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- Department of Metabolic and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), C-127, Phase-8, Industrial Area, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali - 160071, Punjab, India
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28
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Comprehensive assessment of the genes involved in withanolide biosynthesis from Withania somnifera: chemotype-specific and elicitor-responsive expression. Funct Integr Genomics 2017; 17:477-490. [PMID: 28285413 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-017-0548-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Family, Solanaceae), is among the most valuable medicinal plants used in Ayurveda owing to its rich reservoir of pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites known as withanolides. Withanolides are C28-steroidal lactones having a triterpenoidal metabolic origin synthesised via mevalonate (MVA) pathway and methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway involving metabolic intermediacy of 24-methylene (C30-terpenoid) cholesterol. Phytochemical studies suggest differences in the content and/or nature of withanolides in different tissues of different chemotypes. Though development of genomic resources has provided information about putative genes encoding enzymes for biosynthesis of intermediate steps of terpenoid backbone, not much is known about their regulation and response to elicitation. In this study, we generated detailed molecular information about genes catalysing key regulatory steps of withanolide biosynthetic pathway. The full-length sequences of genes encoding enzymes for intermediate steps of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis and their paralogs have been characterized for their functional and structural properties as well as phylogeny using bioinformatics approach. The expression analysis suggests that these genes are differentially expressed in different tissues (with maximal expression in young leaf), chemotypes and in response to salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatments. Sub-cellular localization studies suggest that both paralogs of sterol ∆-7 reductase (WsDWF5-1 and WsDWF5-2) are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) thus supporting their indispensible role in withanolide biosynthesis. Comprehensive information developed, in this study, will lead to elucidation of chemotype- as well as tissue-specific withanolide biosynthesis and development of new tools for functional genomics in this important medicinal plant.
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Jadaun JS, Sangwan NS, Narnoliya LK, Tripathi S, Sangwan RS. Withania coagulans tryptophan decarboxylase gene cloning, heterologous expression, and catalytic characteristics of the recombinant enzyme. PROTOPLASMA 2017; 254:181-192. [PMID: 26795344 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-015-0929-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Tryptophan decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.28) catalyzes pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylation of tryptophan to produce tryptamine for recruitment in a myriad of biosynthetic pathways of metabolites possessing indolyl moiety. A recent report of certain indolyl metabolites in Withania species calls for a possible predominant functional role of tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) in the genome of Withania species to facilitate production of the indolyl progenitor molecule, tryptamine. Therefore, with this metabolic prospection, we have identified and cloned a full-length cDNA sequence of TDC from aerial tissues of Withania coagulans. The functional WcTDC gene comprises of 1506 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 502 amino acid protein with calculated molecular mass and pI value of 56.38 kDa and 8.35, respectively. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme was affinity-purified to homogeneity to discern its kinetics of catalysis. The enzyme (WcTDC) exhibited much higher Km value for tryptophan than for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and was dedicated to catalyze decarboxylation of only tryptophan or, to a limited extent, of its analogue (like 5-hydroxy tryptophan). The observed optimal catalytic functionality of the enzyme on the slightly basic side of the pH scale and at slightly higher temperatures reflected adaptability of the plant to hot and arid regions, the predominant natural habitat of the herb. This pertains to be the first report on cloning and characterization of heterologously expressed recombinant enzyme from W. coagulans and forms a starting point to further understanding of withanamide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Singh Jadaun
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Neelam Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Lokesh Kumar Narnoliya
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Sandhya Tripathi
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), C-127, Phase-8, Industrial Area, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 160071, Punjab, India.
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30
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Pal S, Yadav AK, Singh AK, Rastogi S, Gupta MM, Verma RK, Nagegowda DA, Pal A, Shasany AK. Nitrogen treatment enhances sterols and withaferin A through transcriptional activation of jasmonate pathway, WRKY transcription factors, and biosynthesis genes in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. PROTOPLASMA 2017; 254:389-399. [PMID: 26971099 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-016-0959-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The medicinal plant Withania somnifera is researched extensively to increase the quantity of withanolides and specifically withaferin A, which finds implications in many pharmacological activities. Due to insufficient knowledge on biosynthesis and unacceptability of transgenic approach, it is preferred to follow alternative physiological methods to increase the yield of withanolides. Prior use of elicitors like salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, fungal extracts, and even mechanical wounding have shown to increase the withanolide biosynthesis with limited success; however, the commercial viability and logistics of application are debatable. In this investigation, we tested the simple nitrogeneous fertilizers pertaining to the enhancement of withaferin A biosynthesis. Application of ammonium sulfate improved the sterol contents required for the withanolide biosynthesis and correlated to higher expression of pathway genes like FPPS, SMT1, SMT2, SMO1, SMO2, and ODM. Increased expression of a gene homologous to allene oxide cyclase, crucial in jasmonic acid biosynthetic pathway, suggested the involvement of jasmonate signaling. High levels of WRKY gene transcripts indicated transcriptional regulation of the pathway genes. Increase in transcript level could be correlated with a corresponding increase in the protein levels for WsSMT1 and WsWRKY1. The withaferin A increase was also demonstrated in the potted plants growing in the glasshouse and in the open field. These results implicated simple physiological management of nitrogen fertilizer signal to improve the yield of secondary metabolite through probable involvement of jasmonate signal and WRKY transcription factor for the first time, in W. somnifera besides improving the foliage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaifali Pal
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Yadav
- Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anup Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shubhra Rastogi
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Madan Mohan Gupta
- Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar Verma
- Soil Science Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dinesh A Nagegowda
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anirban Pal
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Shasany
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India.
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Rahmati B, Ghosian Moghaddam MH, Khalili M, Enayati E, Maleki M, Rezaeei S. Effect of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal on Sex Hormone and Gonadotropin Levels in Addicted Male Rats. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY 2016; 10:239-44. [PMID: 27441058 PMCID: PMC4948077 DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2016.4915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Background Opioid consumption has been widely increasing across the globe; how-
ever, it can cause adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid, can reduce sex hor-
mones and fertility. Withania somnifera (WS) is a traditional herb used to improve sexual
activities. This study strives to investigate the effect of WS on sex hormones and gonado-
tropins in addicted male rats. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, forty-eight male National Maritime
Research Institute (NMRI) rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group,
ii. WS-treated control group, iii. Addicted group, and iv. WS-treated addicted group. Wa-
ter-soluble morphine was given to rats for 21 days to induce addiction, concurrently the
treated groups (2 and 4) also received WS plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%). At the end
of the treatment, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of the rats’ sera were deter-
mined in all the groups. Results Except for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), morphine reduced most of the
gonadotropin and sex hormone levels. Whereas WS caused a considerable increase in
the hormones in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated
control group. Conclusion WS increased sex hormones and gonadotropins-especially testosterone, es-
trogen, and luteinizing hormone-in the addicted male rats and even increased the proges-
terone level, a stimulant of most sex hormones in addicted male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batool Rahmati
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Khalili
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Enayati
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Maleki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Rezaeei
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
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Singh G, Tiwari M, Singh SP, Singh S, Trivedi PK, Misra P. Silencing of sterol glycosyltransferases modulates the withanolide biosynthesis and leads to compromised basal immunity of Withania somnifera. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25562. [PMID: 27146059 PMCID: PMC4857139 DOI: 10.1038/srep25562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Sterol glycosyltransferases (SGTs) catalyse transfer of glycon moiety to sterols and their related compounds to produce diverse glyco-conjugates or steryl glycosides with different biological and pharmacological activities. Functional studies of SGTs from Withania somnifera indicated their role in abiotic stresses but details about role under biotic stress are still unknown. Here, we have elucidated the function of SGTs by silencing SGTL1, SGTL2 and SGTL4 in Withania somnifera. Down-regulation of SGTs by artificial miRNAs led to the enhanced accumulation of withanolide A, withaferin A, sitosterol, stigmasterol and decreased content of withanoside V in Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) lines. This was further correlated with increased expression of WsHMGR, WsDXR, WsFPPS, WsCYP710A1, WsSTE1 and WsDWF5 genes, involved in withanolide biosynthesis. These variations of withanolide concentrations in silenced lines resulted in pathogen susceptibility as compared to control plants. The infection of Alternaria alternata causes increased salicylic acid, callose deposition, superoxide dismutase and H2O2 in aMIR-VIGS lines. The expression of biotic stress related genes, namely, WsPR1, WsDFS, WsSPI and WsPR10 were also enhanced in aMIR-VIGS lines in time dependent manner. Taken together, our observations revealed that a positive feedback regulation of withanolide biosynthesis occurred by silencing of SGTLs which resulted in reduced biotic tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Singh
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manish Tiwari
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Surendra Pratap Singh
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Surendra Singh
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pratibha Misra
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
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RNAi and Homologous Over-Expression Based Functional Approaches Reveal Triterpenoid Synthase Gene-Cycloartenol Synthase Is Involved in Downstream Withanolide Biosynthesis in Withania somnifera. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149691. [PMID: 26919744 PMCID: PMC4769023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera Dunal, is one of the most commonly used medicinal plant in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine traditionally owing to its therapeutic potential, because of major chemical constituents, withanolides. Withanolide biosynthesis requires the activities of several enzymes in vivo. Cycloartenol synthase (CAS) is an important enzyme in the withanolide biosynthetic pathway, catalyzing cyclization of 2, 3 oxidosqualene into cycloartenol. In the present study, we have cloned full-length WsCAS from Withania somnifera by homology-based PCR method. For gene function investigation, we constructed three RNAi gene-silencing constructs in backbone of RNAi vector pGSA and a full-length over-expression construct. These constructs were transformed in Agrobacterium strain GV3101 for plant transformation in W. somnifera. Molecular and metabolite analysis was performed in putative Withania transformants. The PCR and Southern blot results showed the genomic integration of these RNAi and overexpression construct(s) in Withania genome. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of WsCAS gene was considerably downregulated in stable transgenic silenced Withania lines compared with the non-transformed control and HPLC analysis showed that withanolide content was greatly reduced in silenced lines. Transgenic plants over expressing CAS gene displayed enhanced level of CAS transcript and withanolide content compared to non-transformed controls. This work is the first full proof report of functional validation of any metabolic pathway gene in W. somnifera at whole plant level as per our knowledge and it will be further useful to understand the regulatory role of different genes involved in the biosynthesis of withanolides.
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Saema S, Rahman LU, Singh R, Niranjan A, Ahmad IZ, Misra P. Ectopic overexpression of WsSGTL1, a sterol glucosyltransferase gene in Withania somnifera, promotes growth, enhances glycowithanolide and provides tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2016; 35:195-211. [PMID: 26518426 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-015-1879-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of sterol glycosyltransferase (SGTL1) gene of Withania somnifera showing its involvement in glycosylation of withanolide that leads to enhanced growth and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Withania somnifera is widely used in Ayurvedic medicines for over 3000 years due to its therapeutic properties. It contains a variety of glycosylated steroids called withanosides that possess neuroregenerative, adaptogenic, anticonvulsant, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The WsSGTL1 gene specific for 3β-hydroxy position has a catalytic specificity to glycosylate withanolide and sterols. Glycosylation not only stabilizes the products but also alters their physiological activities and governs intracellular distribution. To understand the functional significance and potential of WsSGTL1 gene, transgenics of W. somnifera were generated using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Stable integration and overexpression of WsSGTL1 gene were confirmed by Southern blot analysis followed by quantitative real-time PCR. The WsGTL1 transgenic plants displayed number of alterations at phenotypic and metabolic level in comparison to wild-type plants which include: (1) early and enhanced growth with leaf expansion and increase in number of stomata; (2) increased production of glycowithanolide (majorly withanoside V) and campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol in glycosylated forms with reduced accumulation of withanolides (withaferin A, withanolide A and withanone); (3) tolerance towards biotic stress (100 % mortality of Spodoptera litura), improved survival capacity under abiotic stress (cold stress) and; (4) enhanced recovery capacity after cold stress, as indicated by better photosynthesis performance, chlorophyll, anthocyanin content and better quenching regulation of PSI and PSII. Our data demonstrate overexpression of WsSGTL1 gene which is responsible for increase in glycosylated withanolide and sterols, and confers better growth and tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Saema
- Tissue Culture and Plant Transformation Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India
- Department of Bioscience, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | - Laiq Ur Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
| | - Ruchi Singh
- Tissue Culture and Plant Transformation Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Abhishek Niranjan
- Tissue Culture and Plant Transformation Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | | | - Pratibha Misra
- Tissue Culture and Plant Transformation Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India.
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Gupta P, Goel R, Agarwal AV, Asif MH, Sangwan NS, Sangwan RS, Trivedi PK. Comparative transcriptome analysis of different chemotypes elucidates withanolide biosynthesis pathway from medicinal plant Withania somnifera. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18611. [PMID: 26688389 PMCID: PMC4685652 DOI: 10.1038/srep18611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera is one of the most valuable medicinal plants synthesizing secondary metabolites known as withanolides. Despite pharmaceutical importance, limited information is available about the biosynthesis of withanolides. Chemo-profiling of leaf and root tissues of Withania suggest differences in the content and/or nature of withanolides in different chemotypes. To identify genes involved in chemotype and/or tissue-specific withanolide biosynthesis, we established transcriptomes of leaf and root tissues of distinct chemotypes. Genes encoding enzymes for intermediate steps of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis with their alternatively spliced forms and paralogous have been identified. Analysis suggests differential expression of large number genes among leaf and root tissues of different chemotypes. Study also identified differentially expressing transcripts encoding cytochrome P450s, glycosyltransferases, methyltransferases and transcription factors which might be involved in chemodiversity in Withania. Virus induced gene silencing of the sterol ∆7-reductase (WsDWF5) involved in the synthesis of 24-methylene cholesterol, withanolide backbone, suggests role of this enzyme in biosynthesis of withanolides. Information generated, in this study, provides a rich resource for functional analysis of withanolide-specific genes to elucidate chemotype- as well as tissue-specific withanolide biosynthesis. This genomic resource will also help in development of new tools for functional genomics and breeding in Withania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Gupta
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, INDIA
| | - Ridhi Goel
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, INDIA.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, NewDelhi-110001, INDIA
| | - Aditya Vikram Agarwal
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, INDIA
| | - Mehar Hasan Asif
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, INDIA.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, NewDelhi-110001, INDIA
| | - Neelam Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow-226015, INDIA
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow-226015, INDIA
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, INDIA.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, NewDelhi-110001, INDIA
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36
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Dhar N, Razdan S, Rana S, Bhat WW, Vishwakarma R, Lattoo SK. A Decade of Molecular Understanding of Withanolide Biosynthesis and In vitro Studies in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Prospects and Perspectives for Pathway Engineering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1031. [PMID: 26640469 PMCID: PMC4661287 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera, a multipurpose medicinal plant is a rich reservoir of pharmaceutically active triterpenoids that are steroidal lactones known as withanolides. Though the plant has been well-characterized in terms of phytochemical profiles as well as pharmaceutical activities, limited attempts have been made to decipher the biosynthetic route and identification of key regulatory genes involved in withanolide biosynthesis. This scenario limits biotechnological interventions for enhanced production of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, recent emergent trends vis-à-vis, the exploration of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomics, and in vitro studies have opened new vistas regarding pathway engineering of withanolide production. During recent years, various strategic pathway genes have been characterized with significant amount of regulatory studies which allude toward development of molecular circuitries for production of key intermediates or end products in heterologous hosts. Another pivotal aspect covering redirection of metabolic flux for channelizing the precursor pool toward enhanced withanolide production has also been attained by deciphering decisive branch point(s) as robust targets for pathway modulation. With these perspectives, the current review provides a detailed overview of various studies undertaken by the authors and collated literature related to molecular and in vitro approaches employed in W. somnifera for understanding various molecular network interactions in entirety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niha Dhar
- Plant Biotechnology, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
| | - Sumeer Razdan
- Plant Biotechnology, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
| | - Satiander Rana
- Plant Biotechnology, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
| | - Wajid W Bhat
- Plant Biotechnology, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
| | - Ram Vishwakarma
- Medicinal Chemistry, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
| | - Surrinder K Lattoo
- Plant Biotechnology, CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu Tawi, India
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37
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Devkar ST, Kandhare AD, Sloley BD, Jagtap SD, Lin J, Tam YK, Katyare SS, Bodhankar SL, Hegde MV. Evaluation of the bioavailability of major withanolides of Withania somnifera using an in vitro absorption model system. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2015; 6:159-64. [PMID: 26605156 PMCID: PMC4630722 DOI: 10.4103/2231-4040.165023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, shows several pharmacological properties which are attributed mainly to the withanolides present in the root. The efficacy of medicinally active withanolides constituents depends on the absorption and transportation through the intestinal epithelium. We examined these characteristics by employing the Sino-Veda Madin-Darby canine kidney cells culture system, which under in vitro condition shows the absorption characteristics similar to the human intestinal epithelium. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to assess the bioavailability of individual withanolides. Withanolides were diluted in Hank's buffered saline at a concentration of 2 μg/ml were tested for permeability studies carried out for 1 h duration. Permeability was measured in terms of efflux pump (Peff) in cm/s. Peff values of withanolide A (WN A), withanone (WNN), 1,2-deoxywithastramonolide (1,2 DWM), withanolide B (WN B), withanoside IV-V (WS IV-V), and withaferin A were 4.05 × 10−5, 2.06 × 10−5, 1.97 × 10−5, 1.80 × 10−5, 3.19 × 10−6, 3.03 × 10−6 and 3.30 × 10−7 respectively. In conclusion, the nonpolar and low molecular weight compounds (WN A, WNN, 1,2 DWM, and WN B) were highly permeable. As against this, the glycosylated and polar WS IV and WS V showed low permeability. Surprisingly and paradoxically, the highly biologically active withaferin A was completely impermeable, suggesting that further studies possibly using human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells may be needed to delineate the absorption characteristics of withanolides, especially withaferin A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh T Devkar
- Centre for Innovation Nutrition Health Disease - Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Amit D Kandhare
- Department of Pharmacology, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Brian D Sloley
- SinoVeda Canada Inc. Suite 100, BBDC 2011-94 Street Edmonton, AB T6N 1H1 Canada
| | - Suresh D Jagtap
- Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Herbal Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - James Lin
- SinoVeda Canada Inc. Suite 100, BBDC 2011-94 Street Edmonton, AB T6N 1H1 Canada
| | - Yun K Tam
- SinoVeda Canada Inc. Suite 100, BBDC 2011-94 Street Edmonton, AB T6N 1H1 Canada
| | - Surendra S Katyare
- Centre for Innovation Nutrition Health Disease - Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Subhash L Bodhankar
- Department of Pharmacology, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mahabaleshwar V Hegde
- Centre for Innovation Nutrition Health Disease - Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Srivastava S, Sangwan RS, Tripathi S, Mishra B, Narnoliya LK, Misra LN, Sangwan NS. Light and auxin responsive cytochrome P450s from Withania somnifera Dunal: cloning, expression and molecular modelling of two pairs of homologue genes with differential regulation. PROTOPLASMA 2015; 252:1421-37. [PMID: 25687294 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-015-0766-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) catalyse a wide variety of oxygenation/hydroxylation reactions that facilitate diverse metabolic functions in plants. Specific CYP families are essential for the biosynthesis of species-specialized metabolites. Therefore, we investigated the role of different CYPs related to secondary metabolism in Withania somnifera, a medicinally important plant of the Indian subcontinent. In this study, complete complementary DNAs (cDNAs) of four different CYP genes were isolated and christened as WSCYP93Id, WSCYP93Sm, WSCYP734B and WSCYP734R. These cDNAs encoded polypeptides comprising of 498, 496, 522 and 550 amino acid residues with their deduced molecular mass of 56.7, 56.9, 59.4 and 62.2 kDa, respectively. Phylogenetic study and molecular modelling analysis of the four cloned WSCYPs revealed their categorization into two CYP families (CYP83B1 and CYP734A1) belonging to CYP71 and CYP72 clans, respectively. BLASTp searches showed similarity of 75 and 56 %, respectively, between the two CYP members of CYP83B1 and CYP734A1 with major variances exhibited in their N-terminal regions. The two pairs of homologues exhibited differential expression profiles in the leaf tissues of selected chemotypes of W. somnifera as well as in response to treatments such as methyl jasmonate, wounding, light and auxin. Light and auxin regulated two pairs of WSCYP homologues in a developing seedling in an interesting differential manner. Their lesser resemblance and homology with other CYP sequences suggested these genes to be more specialized and distinct ones. The results on chemotype-specific expression patterns of the four genes strongly suggested their key/specialized involvement of the CYPs in the biosynthesis of chemotype-specific metabolites, though their further biochemical characterization would reveal the specificity in more detail. It is revealed that WSCYP93Id and WSCYP93Sm may be broadly involved in the oxygenation reactions in the plant and, thereby, control various pathways involving such metabolic reactions in the plant. As a representative experimental validation of this notion, WSCYP93Id was heterologouly expressed in Escherichia coli and catalytic capabilities of the recombinant WSCYP93Id protein were evaluated using withanolides as substrates. Optimized assays with some major withanolides (withanone, withaferin A and withanolide A) involving spectrophotometric as well as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based evaluation (product detection) of the reactions showed conversion of withaferin A to a hydroxylated product. The genes belonging to other CYP group are possibly involved in some specialised synthesis such as that of brassinosteroids.
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MESH Headings
- Biotransformation
- Cloning, Molecular
- Computational Biology
- Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/chemistry
- Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics
- Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism
- Databases, Genetic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
- Hydroxylation
- Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology
- Isoenzymes
- Light
- Models, Molecular
- Phylogeny
- Plant Proteins/genetics
- Plant Proteins/metabolism
- Plants, Medicinal
- Protein Conformation
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Analysis, Protein
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Substrate Specificity
- Withania/drug effects
- Withania/enzymology
- Withania/genetics
- Withania/radiation effects
- Withanolides/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhakar Srivastava
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Negev, Israel
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India.
- Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India), Mohali, 1600 71, Punjab, India.
| | - Sandhya Tripathi
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
| | - Bhawana Mishra
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
| | - L K Narnoliya
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
| | - L N Misra
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
| | - Neelam S Sangwan
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, 226015, UP, India.
- Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), (A National Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India), Mohali, 1600 71, Punjab, India.
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Munien P, Naidoo Y, Naidoo G. Micromorphology, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the foliar trichomes of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae). PLANTA 2015; 242:1107-22. [PMID: 26063189 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-015-2341-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The leaves of Withania somnifera contained four morphologically distinct trichome types: glandular capitate, non-glandular dendritic (branched), non-glandular bicellular and non-glandular multicellular trichomes. Major phytochemical compounds present within glandular and non-glandular trichomes were alkaloids and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to characterize the micromorphology of the foliar trichomes of Withania somnifera as well as to elucidate the location and composition of the secretory products. Trichome density and length was also determined in three developmental stages of the leaves. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of four morphologically distinct trichome types: glandular capitate, non-glandular dendritic, non-glandular bicellular and non-glandular multicellular. The dendritic trichomes exhibited cuticular warts which are involved in the "Lotus-Effect". Glandular capitate and non-glandular dendritic trichomes were aggregated on the mid-vein of young and mature leaves, possibly to protect underlying vasculature. Histochemical staining also revealed the presence of two major classes of phytochemical compounds that are of medicinal importance, i.e. alkaloids and phenolic compounds. These compounds are used to treat a wide variety of ailments and also act as chemical deterrents in plants. The results of this study explain possible roles of four morphologically distinct trichome types based on their morphology, foliar distribution and content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prelina Munien
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
| | - Yougasphree Naidoo
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
| | - Gonasageran Naidoo
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa
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40
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Sivanandhan G, Arunachalam C, Selvaraj N, Sulaiman AA, Lim YP, Ganapathi A. Expression of important pathway genes involved in withanolides biosynthesis in hairy root culture of Withania somnifera upon treatment with Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum wightii. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2015; 91:61-4. [PMID: 25885356 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of seaweeds, Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum wightii extracts was carried out for the estimation of growth characteristics and major withanolides production in hairy root culture of Withania somnifera. The extract of G. edulis (50%) in MS liquid basal medium enabled maximum production of dry biomass (5.46 g DW) and withanolides contents (withanolide A 5.23 mg/g DW; withaferin A 2.24 mg/g DW and withanone 4.83 mg/g DW) in hairy roots after 40 days of culture with 48 h contact time. The obtained withanolides contents were significantly higher (2.32-fold-2.66-fold) in hairy root culture when compared to the control. RT PCR analysis of important pathway genes such as SE, SS, HMGR and FPPS exhibited substantial higher expression upon the seaweed extracts treatment in hairy root culture. This experiment would paw a platform for withanolides production in hairy root culture with the influence of sea weed extracts for pharmaceutical companies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganeshan Sivanandhan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India; Molecular Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305 764, South Korea.
| | - Chinnathambi Arunachalam
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Natesan Selvaraj
- Department of Botany, Periyar E.V.R College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli 620 023, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ali Alharbi Sulaiman
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yong Pyo Lim
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305 764, South Korea
| | - Andy Ganapathi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Devkar ST, Suryapujary SM, Jagtap SD, Katyare SS, Hegde MV. Effect of macronutrient deficiency on withanolides content in the roots of Withania somnifera and its correlationship with molybdenum content. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2015; 53:518-23. [PMID: 25331970 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.931439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The content of withanolides in the roots of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae) is important for therapeutic application. Earlier studies have shown that the deficiency of macro- and micronutrients affects the growth of W. somnifera. Therefore, we examined the effect of these deficiencies on the withanolides content of the roots. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of molybdenum accretion in nitrogen-, phosphorus-, calcium- and potassium-deficient soils on the accumulation of withanolides in the roots of W. somnifera. Different withanolides have different therapeutic applications hence major bioactive withanolides assume importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Methanol extracts of the roots were subjected to HPTLC and individual withanolides were identified by comparing their Rf values with those of the authentic samples. Molybdenum was quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Free radical scavenging activity was monitored by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. RESULTS Molybdenum content in roots of nitrogen-, phosphorus-, calcium-, potassium-deficient, and control plants were 7.02 ± 2.1, 13.1 ± 1.6, 17.1 ± 0.9, 33.5 ± 3.3, and 33.9 ± 1.6 ppm, respectively. Levels of withaferine A increased with the increase in the Mo content in roots from 7.79 ± 2.2 mg/g to 12.57 ± 3.4 mg/g. Antioxidant activity of nitrogen-deficient plants was the lowest (24.7 ± 2.2%) compared to other groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION It was observed that nitrogen metabolism-dependent molybdenum uptake influences the withanolides accumulation in the roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh T Devkar
- Center for Innovation in Nutrition Health Diseases, IRSHA, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College Campus , Pune, Maharashtra , India and
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Singh P, Guleri R, Singh V, Kaur G, Kataria H, Singh B, Kaur G, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R, Pati PK. Biotechnological interventions inWithania somnifera(L.) Dunal. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2015; 31:1-20. [DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2015.1020467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Senthil K, Jayakodi M, Thirugnanasambantham P, Lee SC, Duraisamy P, Purushotham PM, Rajasekaran K, Nancy Charles S, Mariam Roy I, Nagappan AK, Kim GS, Lee YS, Natesan S, Min TS, Yang TJ. Transcriptome analysis reveals in vitro cultured Withania somnifera leaf and root tissues as a promising source for targeted withanolide biosynthesis. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:14. [PMID: 25608483 PMCID: PMC4310147 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The production of metabolites via in vitro culture is promoted by the availability of fully defined metabolic pathways. Withanolides, the major bioactive phytochemicals of Withania somnifera, have been well studied for their pharmacological activities. However, only a few attempts have been made to identify key candidate genes involved in withanolide biosynthesis. Understanding the steps involved in withanolide biosynthesis is essential for metabolic engineering of this plant to increase withanolide production. Results Transcriptome sequencing was performed on in vitro adventitious root and leaf tissues using the Illumina platform. We obtained a total of 177,156 assembled transcripts with an average unigene length of 1,033 bp. About 13% of the transcripts were unique to in vitro adventitious roots but no unique transcripts were observed in in vitro-grown leaves. A putative withanolide biosynthetic pathway was deduced by mapping the assembled transcripts to the KEGG database, and the expression of candidate withanolide biosynthesis genes -were validated by qRT PCR. The accumulation pattern of withaferin A and withanolide A varied according to the type of tissue and the culture period. Further, we demonstrated that in vitro leaf extracts exhibit anticancer activity against human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines at sub G1 phase. Conclusions We report here a validated large-scale transcriptome data set and the potential biological activity of in vitro cultures of W. somnifera. This study provides important information to enhance tissue-specific expression and accumulation of secondary metabolites, paving the way for industrialization of in vitro cultures of W. somnifera. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1214-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalaiselvi Senthil
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Murukarthick Jayakodi
- Department of Plant Science, Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea.
| | - Pankajavalli Thirugnanasambantham
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Sang Choon Lee
- Department of Plant Science, Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea.
| | - Pradeepa Duraisamy
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Preethi M Purushotham
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Kalaiselvi Rajasekaran
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Shobana Nancy Charles
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Irene Mariam Roy
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, 641043, India.
| | - Arul Kumar Nagappan
- Lab of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Gon Sup Kim
- Lab of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yun Sun Lee
- Department of Plant Science, Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea.
| | - Senthil Natesan
- Genomics and Proteomics Laboratory, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Tae-Sun Min
- National Research Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae Jin Yang
- Department of Plant Science, Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea.
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Singh S, Pal S, Shanker K, Chanotiya CS, Gupta MM, Dwivedi UN, Shasany AK. Sterol partitioning by HMGR and DXR for routing intermediates toward withanolide biosynthesis. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2014; 152:617-33. [PMID: 24749735 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Withanolides biosynthesis in the plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is hypothesized to be diverged from sterol pathway at the level of 24-methylene cholesterol. The conversion and translocation of intermediates for sterols and withanolides are yet to be characterized in this plant. To understand the influence of mevalonate (MVA) and 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathways on sterols and withanolides biosynthesis in planta, we overexpressed the WsHMGR2 and WsDXR2 in tobacco, analyzed the effect of transient suppression through RNAi, inhibited MVA and MEP pathways and fed the leaf tissue with different sterols. Overexpression of WsHMGR2 increased cycloartenol, sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol compared to WsDXR2 transgene lines. Increase in cholesterol was, however, marginally higher in WsDXR2 transgenic lines. This was further validated through transient suppression analysis, and pathway inhibition where cholesterol reduction was found higher due to WsDXR2 suppression and all other sterols were affected predominantly by WsHMGR2 suppression in leaf. The transcript abundance and enzyme analysis data also correlate with sterol accumulation. Cholesterol feeding did not increase the withanolide content compared to cycloartenol, sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol. Hence, a preferential translocation of carbon from MVA and MEP pathways was found differentiating the sterols types. Overall results suggested that MVA pathway was predominant in contributing intermediates for withanolides synthesis mainly through the campesterol/stigmasterol route in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, UP, India
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Mishra B, Sangwan RS, Mishra S, Jadaun JS, Sabir F, Sangwan NS. Effect of cadmium stress on inductive enzymatic and nonenzymatic responses of ROS and sugar metabolism in multiple shoot cultures of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal). PROTOPLASMA 2014; 251:1031-45. [PMID: 24510215 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-014-0613-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Withania somnifera is one of the most important medicinal plant and is credited with various pharmacological activities. In this study, in vitro multiple shoot cultures were exposed to different concentrations (5-300 μM) of cadmium (Cd) as cadmium sulphate to explore its ability to accumulate the heavy metal ion and its impact on the metabolic status and adaptive responses. The results showed that supplemental exposure to Cd interfered with N, P, and K uptake creating N, P, and K deficiency at higher doses of Cd that also caused stunting of growth, chlorosis, and necrosis. The study showed that in vitro shoots could markedly accumulate Cd in a concentration-dependent manner. Enzymatic activities and isozymic pattern of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase were altered substantially under Cd exposure. Sugar metabolism was also markedly modulated under Cd stress. Various other parameters including contents of photosynthetic pigments, phenolics, tocopherol, flavonoids, reduced glutathione, nonprotein thiol, ascorbate, and proline displayed major inductive responses reflecting their protective role. The results showed that interplay of enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic responses constituted a system endeavor of tolerance of Cd accumulation and an efficient scavenging strategy of its stress implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawana Mishra
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Sivanandhan G, Selvaraj N, Ganapathi A, Manickavasagam M. Enhanced biosynthesis of withanolides by elicitation and precursor feeding in cell suspension culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal in shake-flask culture and bioreactor. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104005. [PMID: 25089711 PMCID: PMC4121209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the biosynthesis of major and minor withanolides of Withania somnifera in cell suspension culture using shake-flask culture and bioreactor by exploiting elicitation and precursor feeding strategies. Elicitors like cadmium chloride, aluminium chloride and chitosan, precursors such as cholesterol, mevalonic acid and squalene were examined. Maximum total withanolides detected [withanolide A (7606.75 mg), withanolide B (4826.05 mg), withaferin A (3732.81 mg), withanone (6538.65 mg), 12 deoxy withanstramonolide (3176.63 mg), withanoside IV (2623.21 mg) and withanoside V (2861.18 mg)] were achieved in the combined treatment of chitosan (100 mg/l) and squalene (6 mM) along with 1 mg/l picloram, 0.5 mg/l KN, 200 mg/l L-glutamine and 5% sucrose in culture at 4 h and 48 h exposure times respectively on 28th day of culture in bioreactor. We obtained higher concentrations of total withanolides in shake-flask culture (2.13-fold) as well as bioreactor (1.66-fold) when compared to control treatments. This optimized protocol can be utilized for commercial level production of withanolides from suspension culture using industrial bioreactors in a short culture period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganeshan Sivanandhan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- * E-mail: (GS); (MM)
| | | | - Andy Ganapathi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Markandan Manickavasagam
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- * E-mail: (GS); (MM)
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Devkar S, Jagtap S, Katyare S, Hegde M. Estimation of antioxidant potential of individual components present in complex mixture ofWithania somnifera(Ashwagandha) root fraction by thin-layer chromatography-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl method. JPC-J PLANAR CHROMAT 2014. [DOI: 10.1556/jpc.27.2014.3.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Secondary Metabolites of Traditional Medical Plants: A Case Study of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). PLANT CELL MONOGRAPHS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-41787-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Dhar N, Rana S, Bhat WW, Razdan S, Pandith SA, Khan S, Dutt P, Dhar RS, Vaishnavi S, Vishwakarma R, Lattoo SK. Dynamics of withanolide biosynthesis in relation to temporal expression pattern of metabolic genes in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: a comparative study in two morpho-chemovariants. Mol Biol Rep 2013; 40:7007-16. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2820-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Kushwaha AK, Sangwan NS, Trivedi PK, Negi AS, Misra L, Sangwan RS. Tropine forming tropinone reductase gene from Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): biochemical characteristics of the recombinant enzyme and novel physiological overtones of tissue-wide gene expression patterns. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74777. [PMID: 24086372 PMCID: PMC3783447 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera is one of the most reputed medicinal plants of Indian systems of medicine synthesizing diverse types of secondary metabolites such as withanolides, alkaloids, withanamides etc. Present study comprises cloning and E. coli over-expression of a tropinone reductase gene (WsTR-I) from W. somnifera, and elucidation of biochemical characteristics and physiological role of tropinone reductase enzyme in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in aerial tissues of the plant. The recombinant enzyme was demonstrated to catalyze NADPH-dependent tropinone to tropine conversion step in tropane metabolism, through TLC, GC and GC-MS-MS analyses of the reaction product. The functionally active homodimeric ∼60 kDa enzyme catalyzed the reaction in reversible manner at optimum pH 6.7. Catalytic kinetics of the enzyme favoured its forward reaction (tropine formation). Comparative 3-D models of landscape of the enzyme active site contours and tropinone binding site were also developed. Tissue-wide and ontogenic stage-wise assessment of WsTR-I transcript levels revealed constitutive expression of the gene with relatively lower abundance in berries and young leaves. The tissue profiles of WsTR-I expression matched those of tropine levels. The data suggest that, in W. somnifera, aerial tissues as well possess tropane alkaloid biosynthetic competence. In vivo feeding of U-[14C]-sucrose to orphan shoot (twigs) and [14C]-chasing revealed substantial radiolabel incorporation in tropinone and tropine, confirming the de novo synthesizing ability of the aerial tissues. This inherent independent ability heralds a conceptual novelty in the backdrop of classical view that these tissues acquire the alkaloids through transportation from roots rather than synthesis. The TR-I gene expression was found to be up-regulated on exposure to signal molecules (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) and on mechanical injury. The enzyme's catalytic and structural properties as well as gene expression profiles are discussed with respect to their physiological overtones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Kushwaha
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Neelam Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Arvind Singh Negi
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Laxminarain Misra
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajender Singh Sangwan
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Bio-Processing Unit (An Autonomous Institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Interim Facility, C-127, Phase-8, Industrial Area, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, India
- * E-mail:
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