Effects of Abscisic Acid, Gibberellin, Ethylene and Their Interactions on Production of Phenolic Acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Hairy Roots

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 9; p. e72806
• Main Authors: Liang, Zongsuo, Ma, Yini, Xu, Tao, Cui, Beimi, Liu, Yan, Guo, Zhixin, Yang, Dongfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.09.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Abscisic Acid - pharmacology; Acids; Analysis; Angina pectoris; Biosynthesis; Caffeic acid; Cardiovascular diseases; Coronary artery disease; Ethylene; Ethylenes - pharmacology; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Gibberellins; Gibberellins - pharmacology; Hairy root; Heart; Heart diseases; Hydroxybenzoates - metabolism; Ingredients; Kinases; Life sciences; Medicinal plants; Metabolism; Metabolites; Phenolic acids; Phenols; Physiological aspects; Plant hormones; Plant Roots - drug effects; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants (botany); Roots; Rosmarinic acid; Sage; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Salvia miltiorrhiza - drug effects; Salvia miltiorrhiza - metabolism; Signaling; Studies; China
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072806

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicinal plants because of its excellent performance in treating coronary heart disease. Phenolic acids mainly including caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B are a group of active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza. Abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA) and ethylene are three important phytohormones. In this study, effects of the three phytohormones and their interactions on phenolic production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were investigated. The results showed that ABA, GA and ethylene were all effective to induce production of phenolic acids and increase activities of PAL and TAT in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots. Effects of phytohormones were reversed by their biosynthetic inhibitors. Antagonistic actions between the three phytohormones played important roles in the biosynthesis of phenolic acids. GA signaling is necessary for ABA and ethylene-induced phenolic production. Yet, ABA and ethylene signaling is probably not necessary for GA3-induced phenolic production. The complex interactions of phytohormones help us reveal regulation mechanism of secondary metabolism and scale-up production of active ingredients in plants.