Plants as biofactories: glyphosate-induced production of shikimic acid and phenolic antioxidants in wounded carrot tissue

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Nov 14;60(45):11378-86. doi: 10.1021/jf303252v. Epub 2012 Nov 5.

Abstract

The use of plants to produce chemical compounds with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications has intensified in recent years. In this regard, genetic engineering is the most commonly used tool to generate crop lines with enhanced concentrations of desirable chemicals. However, growing genetically modified plants is still limited because they are perceived as potential biological hazards that can create an ecological imbalance. The application of postharvest abiotic stresses on plants induces the accumulation of secondary metabolites and thus can be used as an alternative to genetic modification. The present project evaluated the feasibility of producing shikimic acid (SA) and phenolic compounds (PC) in wounded carrots ( Daucus carota ) treated with glyphosate. The spray application of a concentrated glyphosate solution on wounded carrot tissue increased the concentrations of SA and chlorogenic acid by ∼1735 and ∼5700%, respectively. The results presented herein demonstrate the potential of stressed carrot tissue as a biofactory of SA and PC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Daucus carota / drug effects*
  • Daucus carota / genetics
  • Daucus carota / metabolism*
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / pharmacology
  • Glyphosate
  • Herbicides / pharmacology*
  • Phenols / metabolism*
  • Shikimic Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Herbicides
  • Phenols
  • Shikimic Acid
  • Glycine