Co-culture of Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp. cell suspension cultures with an endophytic fungus for the enhanced production of pharmacologically active cajaninstilbene acid
摘要
Cajaninstilbene acid (CSA), a natural stilbene in Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp., is highly appreciated for its remarkable bioactivities. This study aimed to enhance the CSA yield in C. cajan cell suspension cultures by a co-culture strategy using the endophytic fungus Penicillium rubens capable of producing cellulases (an elicitor characteristic) and CSA. The P. rubens mycelia (inoculum size of 0.25% g/mL) were introduced to 49-day-old CCSCs for 12 h, resulting in a significant 16.07-fold increase in CSA yield compared to the control. Moreover, P. rubens elicitation could enhance the excretion of CSA from suspension cells into culture media (15.58-fold increase). Microscopic observation found that the suspension cells co-cultured with P. rubens exhibited defense responses of cell agglomeration, cell wall thickening, and fluorescence enhancement. This study found that P. rubens elicitation could activate genes of plant pattern recognition receptors in suspension cells, triggering reactive oxygen species-mediated signal transduction that activates gene expression related to pathogenesis, CSA biosynthesis, and ABC transporter. The co-culture of CCSCs with the endophytic fungus P. rubens was a promising strategy to enhance the CSA accumulation, making this co-culture system commercially attractive for producing valuable naturally-derived stilbene in the nutraceutical and medicinal fields.