Elucidating Phytochemical Production in Juniperus sp.: Seasonality and Response to Stress Situations

Phenolic-enriched extracts from Portuguese junipers were described as potential neuroprotective natural products. However, evaluation of plants for pharma/nutraceutical industry is based on secondary metabolite content, which is influenced by the environmental conditions. Therefore, it became import...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2013-05, Vol.61 (17), p.4044-4052
Main Authors: Tavares, Lucélia, Pimpão, Rui, McDougall, Gordon, Stewart, Derek, Ferreira, Ricardo B, Santos, Cláudia N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antioxidants - analysis
Biflavonoids - analysis
biochemical pathways
Biological and medical sciences
Catechin - analysis
Cloning, Molecular
DNA, Plant - genetics
environmental factors
enzymes
epicatechin
Food industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gene expression
Juniperus
Juniperus - chemistry
Juniperus - genetics
methyl jasmonate
neuroprotective effect
phytochemicals
Phytochemicals - analysis
Plant Extracts - analysis
Polyphenols - analysis
Proanthocyanidins - analysis
RNA, Plant - genetics
salt stress
Seasons
secondary metabolites
Sequence Analysis, DNA
stress response
Stress, Physiological
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Summary:Phenolic-enriched extracts from Portuguese junipers were described as potential neuroprotective natural products. However, evaluation of plants for pharma/nutraceutical industry is based on secondary metabolite content, which is influenced by the environmental conditions. Therefore, it became important to elucidate the metabolic response of the junipers to seasonality and to stress conditions with regard to polyphenol production. Seasonal conditions modulated total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the four juniper species. Higher levels of phytochemicals were obtained when plants were not actively growing. However, only a few differences were registered in the relative contents of psydrin and a procyanidin dimer, according to species. Salt stress and methyl jasmonate elicitation promote different responses within the species. They were effective in enhancing phenolic accumulation, with just a few alterations in the relative contents of procyanidins, epicatechin, and quercetin derivatives. These differences were also reflected in gene expression of important enzymes from biosynthetic pathways.
ISSN:0021-8561
1520-5118
DOI:10.1021/jf304752q