The Production of Useful Phenol Compounds with Antioxidant Potential in Gametophytes and Sporophytes from <i>In Vitro</i> Cultures in Four Ornamental Ferns Species
Elena Monica Mitoi,
Florentina Aldea,
Florența Elena Helepciuc,
Alexandra-Gabriela Ciocan,
Adina Frum,
Diana Ionela Popescu,
Oana Alexandra Luțu,
Nicoleta Anca Șuțan,
Liliana Cristina Soare
Affiliations
Elena Monica Mitoi
Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Florentina Aldea
Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Florența Elena Helepciuc
Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandra-Gabriela Ciocan
Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Adina Frum
Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 550169 Sibiu, Romania
Diana Ionela Popescu
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies—ICSI Ramnicu Valcea, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania
Oana Alexandra Luțu
Pitești University Centre, Faculty of Science, Physical Education and Informatics, Department of Natural Sciences, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Târgu din Vale Street, No. 1, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Nicoleta Anca Șuțan
Pitești University Centre, Faculty of Science, Physical Education and Informatics, Department of Natural Sciences, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Târgu din Vale Street, No. 1, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Liliana Cristina Soare
Pitești University Centre, Faculty of Science, Physical Education and Informatics, Department of Natural Sciences, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Târgu din Vale Street, No. 1, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate their potential as secondary metabolites sources. For this study four fern species were used: Polypodium vulgare L. (PV), Asplenium trichomanes L. (AT), Athyrium filix-femina L. Roth (AF), and Osmunda regalis L. (OR). The polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids content and antioxidant activity were estimated by different colorimetric methods. For metabolite identification and their antioxidant activity, HP-TLC separations were used. Also, quantitative HPLC–DAD analysis was performed to estimate the content of certain metabolites. The results showed that in vitro generation of gametophytes registered higher growth rates in OR, PV, and AF, while the regeneration of sporophytes was better for PV, AT, and AF. The OR gametophyte produced the highest quantities in all analyzed metabolite classes and also had the highest antioxidant values. We report for the first time the presence of metabolites such as catechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, or rutin in OR. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of producing potent antioxidant metabolites by in vitro cultures in ferns.
