Salicylic Acid Increases Transcription of hyp-1 Gene in Common St. John’s Wort

Author: Somayyeh Bahramikia*, Nader Farsad-Akhtar*, Nasser Mahna**, Hanieh Mohajjel-Shoja* and Jafar Razeghi*

Journal Name:

Download PDF

Abstract

Hypericum perforatum is one of the most important medicinal plants which is used in traditional medicine. Considering the importance of hyp-1 gene function in hypericin biosynthesis we investigated the effect of different concentration of SA on the expression of this gene. In this way, calli from leaf explants were treated with three concentrations of SA and the activity of hyp-1 gene was evaluated using RT-PCR, 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. In control samples there was no variation in gene expression. In the samples treated with 100µM SA, a decrease in gene expression was observed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The same trend was seen with 250µM SA. The maximum hyp-1 gene expression was witnessed in 24 hours after treatment while the minimum was in 72 hours. In 24, 48 and 72 evaluated times, increasing the concentration of SA resulted in higher expression of hyp-1 gene.

Keywords

Gene expression, hyp-1 gene, Hypericum perforatum, Salicylic Acid.

Conclusion

Hypericum perforatum is one of the most important medicinal plants which is used in traditional medicine. Considering the importance of hyp-1 gene function in hypericin biosynthesis we investigated the effect of different concentration of SA on the expression of this gene. In this way, calli from leaf explants were treated with three concentrations of SA and the activity of hyp-1 gene was evaluated using RT-PCR, 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. In control samples there was no variation in gene expression. In the samples treated with 100µM SA, a decrease in gene expression was observed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The same trend was seen with 250µM SA. The maximum hyp-1 gene expression was witnessed in 24 hours after treatment while the minimum was in 72 hours. In 24, 48 and 72 evaluated times, increasing the concentration of SA resulted in higher expression of hyp-1 gene.

References

Secondary metabolites have various physiological functions in a plant life cycle and are considered as important resources for pharmaceuticals (Kosuth et al, 2007). In recent years, studies on plant pharmaceuticals are increasingly conducted to evaluate the effects of these compounds on diseases (Bourgaud et al, 2001). Common St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, has two important metabolites among others, hypericin and hyperforin, that have significant influences on some neurophysiological diseases. The genes involved in the biosynthesis pathways of these compounds have been revealed (Verpoorte and Memelink, 2002). The relationship of some of these genes such as HpPKS1, HpPKS2 and hyp-1 with the hypericin and hyperforin content has been demonstrated (Karppinen, 2010). Chemosynthesis of hypericin and hyperforin is not economic and hence plants are the only preferred source of these compounds. There are two options for producing plant material to be used for extraction of secondary m

How to cite this article

Somayyeh Bahramikia*, Nader Farsad-Akhtar*, Nasser Mahna**, Hanieh Mohajjel-Shoja* and Jafar Razeghi (2017). Salicylic Acid Increases Transcription of hyp-1 Gene in Common St. John’s Wort. Biological Forum – An International Journal 9(1): 2