Using Elicitors to Induce Curcuminoid Biosynthesis in Curcuma longa Via In Vitro Micropropagation
Keywords:
Curcuma longa, curcuminoid, somatic embryogenesis, elicitor, growth retardation, microrhizomeAbstract
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an important herbal plant used in the cosmetic and medical industries. It contains two important products: curcuminoids and volatile oils. Three types of curcuminoids exist: curcumin (the major compound), monodesmethoxycurcumin, and bisdes-methoxycurcumin. Curcuminoids can remedy various diseases such as peptic ulcers, gastric ulcers, dyspepsia, and metabolic and inflammatory conditions. However, monoculture cropping and the practice of rhizome propagation can lead to pathogen contamination, reducing the quality and quantity of curcuminoids. This study aimed to propagate in vitro C. longa plants and improve curcuminoid yield. Rhizomes were propagated using a micropropagation technique, and multiple shoot growth was induced on Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with 5 mgL-1 kinetin and 1 mgL-1 BA (8.00±0.58 shoots). Shoots grown on MS media with the addition of 5 µM phenylalanine, 5 µM malonic acid, and a growth retardant (ancymidol) exhibited the highest curcuminoid accumulation (2.31±0.061 µgg-1 dry weight). It can be concluded that the addition of phenylalanine and malonic acid can stimulate curcuminoid biosynthesis. Therefore, supplementing certain precursors, such as leguminous plants and green grasses, as planting material before cultivation can help increase curcuminoid levels.
Downloads
References
Alvarado, H.L., Limón, D., Calpena-Campmany, A.C., Mallandrich, M., Rodríguez-Cid, L., Aliaga-Alcalde, N., González-Campo, A. & Pérez-García, L. 2023. Intrinsic permeation and anti-inflammatory evaluation of curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and bisdemethylcurcumin by a validated HPLC-UV method. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(7): 6640.
An, H.N., Tran, C., Nhi Thi Hoang, H., Nguyen, T., Tran, P., Lam, T., Tong, T., Phan, N. & Truong, P. 2020. The effects of sucrose, silver nitrate, plant growth regulators, and ammonium nitrate on microrhizome induction in perennially-cultivated ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) from Hue, Vietnam. Acta Agrobotanica, 73: 7329.
Archana, C.P., Geetha, S.P. & Indira, B. 2013. In vitro microrhizome induction in three high yielding cultivars of Zingiber officinale Rosc. and their phytopathological analysis. International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, 4(3): 296–300.
Ashrafi, K., Iqrar, S., Saifi, M., Khan, S., Kilam, D., Ahmad, M.M. & Abdin, M.Z. 2022. Influence of plant growth regulators on glandular trichome density and steviol glycosides accumulation in Stevia rebaudiana. ACS Omega, 7(35): 30967–30977.
Baghel, S. & Yogendra, B. 2015. Thidiazuron promotes in vitro plant regeneration and phytochemical screening of Guizotia abyssinica - a multipurpose oil crop. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(7): 1193–1217.
Belete, T. & Yadete, E. 2023. Effect of mono cropping on soil health and fertility management for sustainable agriculture practices: a review. Journal of Plant Sciences, 11(6): 192–197.
Boruah, J. 2020. Effect of 0.1% HgCl2 on surface sterilization of som (Persea bombycina King) explant during tissue culture - a major host plant of muga silkworm. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 9: 954–958.
Jain, A., Hussain, Z., Yadav, R.P. & Bhardwaj, R. 2018. Effect of carbendazim on in vitro conservation and genetic stability assessment in Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale. Journal of Health Science and Medical Research, 24(2): 160–172.
Jirakiattikul, Y., Panumart, R., Papichaya, K. & Arunporn, I. 2021. Effect of jasmonic acid elicitation period on enhancement of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in callus cultures of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. Korean Journal of Horticultural Science & Technology, 62.
Kaewthip, W., Dheeranupattana, S., Junta, P. & Shank, L. 2021. Sterile tissue preparation and callus induction of Curcuma longa Linn. Chiang Mai University Journal of Natural Sciences, 20: 1–10.
Khaldari, I., Afshoon, E. & Nik, S.H. 2025. Phytohormonal elicitation triggers oxidative stress and enhances menthol biosynthesis through modulation of key pathway genes in Mentha piperita L. Scientific Reports, 15: 30495.
Khan, S., Ambika, Rani, K., Sharma, S., Kumar, A., Singh, S., Thapliyal, M., Rawat, P., Thakur, A., Pandey, S., Thapliyal, A., Pal, M. & Singh, Y. 2023. Rhizobacterial mediated interactions in Curcuma longa for plant growth and enhanced crop productivity: A systematic review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1231676.
Kumar, M., Sirohi, U., Malik, S., Kumar, S., Ahirwar, G.K., Chaudhary, V., Yadav, M.K., Singh, J., Kumar, A., Pal, V. & Prakash, S. 2022. Methods and factors influencing in vitro propagation efficiency of ornamental tuberose (Polianthes species): a systematic review of recent developments and future prospects. Horticulturae, 8(11): 998.
Labrooy, C., Abdullah, T.L. & Stanslas, J. 2020. Influence of N6-benzyladenine and sucrose on in vitro direct regeneration and microrhizome induction of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker, an important ethnomedicinal herb of Asia. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 31(1): 123–139.
Lan, T., Nguyen, D.H., Nguyen, L., Nghi, N., Tan, T.H., Quan, L. & Nguyen, H.L. 2018. Identification and characterization of genes in curcuminoid pathway of Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 19: 839–846.
Malik, K., Wani, A. & Nazki, I. 2021. Effect of growth retardants on growth, flowering and bulb yield of Asiatic Lilium. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 11: 448.
Musfir, V.M., Faizal, K., Shamsudheen, K.M., Raja, P., Thiagu, G. & Shajahan, A. 2019. Direct organogenesis and microrhizome production in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 8: 2880–2883.
Muthukrishnan, S., Nirit, B. & Sathiyanarayanan, A. 2016. Chitosan elicitation for increased curcumin production and stimulation of defence response in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Industrial Crops and Products, 89: 87–94.
Pandey, A., Chaturvedi, M., Mishra, S., Kumar, P., Somvanshi, P. & Chaturvedi, R. 2020. Reductive metabolites of curcumin and their therapeutic effects. Heliyon, 6(11): e05469.
Pikulthong, V., Teerakathiti, T., Thamchaipenet, A. & Peyachoknagul, S. 2016. Development of somatic embryos for genetic transformation in Curcuma longa L. and Curcuma mangga Valeton & Zijp. Agriculture and Natural Resources, 50: 10.1016/j.anres.2015.08.004.
Radić, S. & Glogoški, M. 2016. Influence of pH and plant growth regulators on secondary metabolite production and antioxidant activity of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert). Periodicum Biologorum, 118: 9–19.
Rao, U.M.V., Gaviraj, N. & Veeresham, C. 2010. Effect of ethephon and ancymidol on the production of hypericins in shoot cultures of Hypericum perforatum. Indian Drugs, 47: 77–79.
Sharifi-Rad, J., Rayess, Y.E., Rizk, A.A., Sadaka, C., Zgheib, R., Zam, W., Sestito, S., Rapposelli, S., Neffe-Skocińska, K., Zielińska, D., Salehi, B., Setzer, W.N., Dosoky, N.S., Taheri, Y., El Beyrouthy, M., Martorell, M., Ostrander, E.A., Suleria, H.A.R., Cho, W.C., Maroyi, A. & Martins, N. 2020. Turmeric and its major compound curcumin on health: bioactive effects and safety profiles for food, pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medicinal applications. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11: 01021.
Soundar Raju, C., Aslam, A. & Shajahan, A. 2015. High-efficiency direct somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaf base explants of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 122: 79–87.
Thakur, M. & Sohal, B.S. 2013. Role of elicitors in inducing resistance in plants against pathogen infection: A review. ISRN Biochemistry, 2013: 762412.
Tian, W.W., Liu, L., Chen, P., Yu, D.M., Li, Q.M., Hua, H. & Zhao, J.N. 2025. Curcuma longa (turmeric): from traditional applications to modern plant medicine research hotspots. Chinese Medicine, 20(1): 76.
Yu, S., Hu, L., Liu, Y. & Cai, X. 2024. In vitro microrhizome production, genetic homogeneity assessment, and field performance evaluation in ginger. Agronomy, 14(4): 747.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Any reproduction of figures, tables and illustrations must obtain written permission from the Chief Editor (wicki@ukm.edu.my). No part of the journal may be reproduced without the editor’s permission











