Optimization of Rosmarinic Acid Production in Basil (Ocimum basilicum) via Salicylic Acid and BAP Elicitation In vitro

Fatemeh Yahyaei ¹ ( Department of Horticulture, Da. C., Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran )
Bahareh Kashefi ² ( Department of Horticulture, Da. C., Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran )
Mohammad Moghaddam ³ ( Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran )

Submited date : 2025-01-24 Accepted date : 2025-04-13

Keywords: BAP, Tissue culture, Salicylic acid, Rosmarinic acid, Secondary metabolites, Mints.,

Abstract :

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), is a significant medicinal plant with potential applications in treating various diseases. This plant contains diverse phenolic compounds, with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant. One method to enhance the production of secondary metabolites such as rosmarinic acid in tissue culture involves the use of biological and non-biological stimuli. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 μM) and BAP (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg L^-1) on rosmarinic acid production were evaluated in vitro using a factorial design in a completely randomized format with three replications. The results revealed that all treatments significantly increased rosmarinic acid production compared to the control. The highest rosmarinic acid production (25.14 mg g^-1 dry weight) was observed at 200 μM salicylic acid, while the lowest production occurred at 1, 2, and 3 mg L^-1 BAP hormone levels. Overall, salicylic acid had a greater impact on rosmarinic acid production than BAP. It appears that hormonal treatments enhance this compound in basil by influencing growth processes, metabolism, and the activity of enzymes involved in rosmarinic acid biosynthesis.

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