Forskolin Production and Gene Expression of 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose-5-PHosphate Reductoisomerase in Treated Coleus forskohlii Plant with Cu

Forskolin is an effective compound found in Coleus forskohlii plant which has different therapeutic properties. In this research, production of forskolin and gene expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) were investigated in C. forskohlii plant after treatment with different concentrations of copper elicitor (0; as control, 4, 8 and 16 µM) for 16 hours. Results showed that forskolin concentration is increased up to 8 µM in such a way that the concentration can be estimated 1.5 fold more than the control sample, which consisted with changes of DXR gene expression level. It has been proved that excess concentration of copper, causes triggering of reactive oxygen species that directly or mediated through others signaling molecules induce gene expression level of defensive system. Considering the defensive role of diterpens, it is proposed that increase in DXR gene expression level by copper elicitor leads to increase in forskolin concentration as protective compound against stresses.