Induction of pilocarpine formation in jaborandi leaves by salicylic acid and methyljasmonate

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) 2003-05, Vol.63 (2), p.171-175
• Main Authors: Avancini, Graziela, Abreu, Ilka N., Saldaña, Marleny D.A., Mohamed, Rahoma S., Mazzafera, Paulo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetates - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclopentanes - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hypoxia - metabolism; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; Methyl jasmonate; Mineral nutrition; Oxylipins; Pilocarpine; Pilocarpine - biosynthesis; Pilocarpine - isolation & purification; Pilocarpus - drug effects; Pilocarpus - metabolism; Pilocarpus jaborandi; Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant physiology and development; Potassium - metabolism; Rutaceae; Salicylic acid; Salicylic Acid - pharmacology; Salt stress; Sodium - deficiency; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology; Stress, Mechanical; Wound
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00102-X

Jaborandi seedlings were subjected to different treatments in order to study the induction of pilocarpine in the leaves. In addition four extraction methods were assessed to extract the alkaloid from dried leaves. The highest yielding extraction and recovery was observed when dried leaves were first treated with base and then extracted with chloroform. Salt stress (NaCl), wounding, hypoxia, and N and K omission of the nutrient soln caused reductions in pilocarpine contents. Whereas complete nutrient soln and P omission maintained normal levels of the alkaloid. Salicylic acid and methyljasmonate induced a 4-fold increase of pilocarpine, but this increase was dependent on the concentration and time after exposure. Pilocarpine was induced by salicylic acid and methyljasmonate in leaves of jaborandi, but the increase was dependent on the concentration and time after exposure.