Investigation of sucrose effect on tropane alkaloid production and several biochemical parameters of Datura under in vitro culture condition

Datura stramonium as a well-known medicinal plant is rich in tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine and currently the vast majority of the studies have been focused on optimization of production conditions of these valuable materials in the world. In this research, the effect of sucrose (15, 30 and 45 g/L) as an abiotic elicitor was investigated on fresh weight (FW), hyoscyamine and scopolamine production, protein content, activity of catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) of D. stramonium. The amount of hyoscumine and scopolamine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometery method was applied for studying of total protrin content and activity of CAT and GPX. According to the results, the highest amount of fresh weight (0.82 g), production of hyoscyamine (5 mg/g FW), scopolamine (20 mg/g FW) and CAT activity (0.5 U/mg protein) were recorded on the root of 45 g/L-treated plantlets but the highest amount of protein (0.24 mg/g FW) was observed on shoot of 30 g/L ones. In addition, the maximum GPX activity was determined on root of plantlests treated with 30 g/L sucrose (1.52 U/mg protein). In conclude, the concentration of 45 g/L of sucrose can be a good elicitor to increase production of hyoscyamine and scopolamine with high medicinal value in D. stramonium which probably due to the fact that sucrose does not only act as a carbon and energy source but also induces signaling pathway of tropane alkaloids synthesis.