Evaluating the biological activity of rolB-transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants using phytochemical and pharmacological approaches

• Published in: Plant biosystems 2024-11, Vol.158 (6), p.1428-1442
• Main Authors: Anwar, Afshan, Haneef, Shabana, Ismail, Hammad, Bhatti, Muhammad Zeeshan, Ullah, Nazif, Murtaza, Iram, Mirza, Bushra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Agrobacterium rhizogenes; Analgesics; Biological activity; Damage detection; Data analysis; DNA damage; Flavonoids; Free radicals; Genetic transformation; In vitro methods and tests; Liquid chromatography; Nicotiana tabacum; Pharmacology; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Phytochemicals; Plant extracts; polyphenols; RolB gene; Scavenging; Transgenic plants; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1126-3504; 1724-5575
• DOI: 10.1080/11263504.2024.2421234

The present study explored the impact of rolB gene transformation on biological activities of Nicotiana tabacum. PCR, and RT-qPCR were used to validate the integration of rolB gene and its expression. HPLC analysis was used for phytochemical profiling, and various in-vitro and in-vivo assays were used to assess pharmacological activities of wild-type and transgenic extracts using ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison method for data analysis. Our findings indicated increased total phenolic content (24.4 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g DW of extract) and total flavonoid content (58.8 ± 1.1 mg QE/g DW of extract) in transgenic plants. In case of antioxidant activities, an increase in reducing power (51.82 ± 0.4 AAE mg/g), and radical scavenging (IC 50 188 ± 2.7 µg/mL) was observed. Similarly, transgenic lines exhibited DNA protection against damage caused by free radicals. Moreover, we detected significant antileishmanial potential (IC 50 350.7 ± 8.3 µg/mL), butyrylcholinesterase (IC 50 268.6 ± 4.7 µg/mL), and acetylcholinesterase inhibitions (IC 50 421.6 ± 3.7 µg/mL) in transgenic plants. Similarly, compared with the non-transgenic plants, the rolB-transgenic plants showed increased analgesic (71.4%), anti-inflammatory activities (77.8%), and 35.6% decrease in depression compared to non-transgenic plants. The improved pharmacological activities in transgenic plants have been linked to the level of phytochemicals that increase the therapeutic and curative properties of N. tabacum plants.