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The role of supplemental ultraviolet-B radiation in altering the metabolite profile, essential oil content and composition, and free radical scavenging activities of Coleus forskohlii, an indigenous medicinal plant

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Abstract

The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (s-UV-B; 3.6 kJ m−2 day−1 above ambient) radiation were investigated on plant metabolite profile, essential oil content and composition, and free radical scavenging capacities of methanolic extracts of Coleus forskohlii (an indigenous medicinal plant) grown under field conditions. Essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation technique while alterations in metabolite profile and oil composition were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Leaf and root methanolic extracts were investigated via various in vitro assays for their DPPH radical-, superoxide radical-, hydrogen peroxide-, hydroxyl radical-, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, ferrous ion chelating activity, and reducing power. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Oil content was found to be reduced (by ∼7 %) in supplemental UV-B (s-UV-B) treated plants; the composition of the plant extracts as well as essential oil was also considerably altered. Methanolic extracts from treated plant organs showed more potency as free radical scavengers (their EC50 values being lower than their respective controls). Anomalies were observed in Fe2+ chelating activity for both leaves and roots. The present study concludes that s-UV-B adversely affects oil content in C. forskohlii and also alters the composition and contents of metabolites in both plant extracts and oil. The results also denote that s-UV-B treated plant organs might be more effective in safeguarding against oxidative stress, though further studies are required to authenticate these findings.

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Abbreviations

AsA:

Ascorbic acid

BHT:

Butylated hydroxytoluene

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

DAT:

Days after transplantation

DPPH:

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

EC:

Effective concentration

GC-MS:

Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy

RNS:

Reactive nitrogen species

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany and Coordinator, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, for providing laboratory facilities, and to the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for financial assistance. The authors also extend their thanks to Dr. Ajai Kumar, Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, for GC-MS analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    Swabha Takshak & S. B. Agrawal

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  1. Swabha Takshak
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  2. S. B. Agrawal
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Correspondence to S. B. Agrawal.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic Supplementary Material

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ESM 1

Figures S1 An overview of the biosynthesis of mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes (which form the majority of components in essential oils) and forskolin (a labdane type diterpenoid found exclusively in C. forskohlii naturally) from GGPP. The highlighted components have been found to be influenced by s-UV-B radiation in previous studies. Abbreviations: HMGR: HMG-CoA reductase; DXS: 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase; DXR: 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reducto-isomerase; IPPi: Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase; FPS: Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase; SQC: Sesquiterpene cyclase; GGPRS: Geranyl geranyl pyrophosphate synthase. (Ref: Dolzhenko et al 2010; Asada et al. 2012; Gil et al 2012; Pateraki et al. 2014). Figure S2: Comparative changes in the chromatographic profiles of leaf extracts of Coleus forskohlii. Figure S3: Comparative changes in the chromatographic profiles of root extracts of Coleus forskohlii. Figure S4: Comparative changes in the chromatographic profiles of essential oil obtained from roots of Coleus forskohlii. Figure S5: Effects of graded concentrations of methanolic extracts of control and s-UV-B treated leaves and roots of Coleus forskohlii on the scavenging of (A) DPPH radicals, (B) superoxide radicals, (C) hydrogen peroxide, (D) hydroxyl radicals, and (E) nitric oxide. Figures (F) and (G) show their Fe2+ chelating and reducing power activities respectively. Ascorbic acid (AsA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as standard antioxidant compounds. (Values are the average of five replicates. Error bars are not incorporated into the graphs to avoid complexity in visualizing the data). (DOCX 1111 kb)

ESM 2

Table S1: Phytoconstituents detected in C. forskohlii methanolic extracts and their generalized significance. Table S2: Some pharmacologically important constituents detected via GC-MS analysis of phytoextracts of control and s-UV-B treated Coleus forskohlii leaves and roots. Table S3: Some pharmacologically important constituents detected via GC-MS analysis of essential oil extracted from control and s-UV-B treated Coleus forskohlii leaves and roots. (DOCX 34 kb)

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Takshak, S., Agrawal, S.B. The role of supplemental ultraviolet-B radiation in altering the metabolite profile, essential oil content and composition, and free radical scavenging activities of Coleus forskohlii, an indigenous medicinal plant. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 7324–7337 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5965-6

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