Conservation strategy for Pelargonium sidoides DC: Phenolic profile and pharmacological activity of acclimatized plants derived from tissue culture

0399608 - ÚEB 2014 RIV IE eng J - Journal Article
Moyo, M. - Aremu, A.O. - Grúz, Jiří - Šubrtová, Michaela - Szüčová, Lucie - Doležal, Karel - van Staden, J.
Conservation strategy for Pelargonium sidoides DC: Phenolic profile and pharmacological activity of acclimatized plants derived from tissue culture.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Roč. 149, č. 2 (2013), s. 557-561. ISSN 0378-8741. E-ISSN 1872-7573
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50380511
Keywords : Antimicrobial * Antioxidant * Medicinal plants
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 2.939, year: 2013

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae), a popular medicinal plant used in folk medicine in the treatment of respiratory-related infections has gained international prominence due to its usage in several herbal formulations. This has led to high demand and the subsequent decimation of wild populations. Aim of the study: Using plant tissue culture techniques, Pelargonium sidoides plants were cloned in vitro, acclimatized under greenhouse conditions and evaluated for their phytochemical content and pharmacological activity. Methods: Phenolic content in extracts of in vitro-derived, greenhouse-acclimatized and wild Pelargonium sidoides plants were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts against bacterial and fungal strains were evaluated. Results: Similarities in phenolic profiles were identified confirming the chemical signatures that characterize Pelargonium sidoides plants. Extracts of greenhouse-acclimatized and wild plants exhibited comparable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Conclusions: Overall, the study highlights the potential of integrating plant tissue culture technologies in conservation strategies of medicinal plants. In particular, the results strongly suggest the feasibility of both large-scale cultivation and plant part substitution as alternative solutions to the current destructive overharvesting practices of wild Pelargonium sidoides populations.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0226906