Metabolic profiling for dissection of late leaf spot disease resistance mechanism in groundnut

Late leaf spot (LLS) caused by fungi Passalora personata is generally more destructive and difficult to control than early leaf spot. The aim of this study was to decipher biochemical defense mechanism in groundnut genotypes against P. personata by identifying resistance specific biomarkers and metabolic pathways induced during host–pathogen interaction. Metabolomics of non-infected and infected leaves of moderately resistant (GPBD4 and ICGV86590), resistant (KDG128 and RHRG06083) and susceptible (GG20, JL24 and TMV2) genotypes was carried out at 5 days after infection (65 days after sowing). Non-targeted metabolite analysis using GC–MS revealed total 77 metabolites including carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, amino acids, fatty acids, polyamines, phenolics, terpenes and sterols. Variable importance in projection (VIP) measure of partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that resistant and moderately resistant genotypes possessed higher intensities of ribonic acid, cinnamic acid, malic acid, squalene, xylulose, galactose, fructose, glucose, β-amyrin and hydroquinone while susceptible genotypes had higher amount of gluconic acid 2-methoxime, ribo-hexose-3-ulose and gluconic acid. Heat map analysis showed that resistant genotypes had higher intensities of β-amyrin, hydroquinone in non-infected and malic acid, squalene, putrescine and 2,3,4-trihydroxybutyric acid in infected leaves. Dendrogram analysis further separated resistant genotypes in the same cluster along with infected moderately resistant genotypes. The most significant pathways identified are: linoleic acid metabolism, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, cutin, suberin and wax biosynthesis, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, starch and sucrose metabolism, stilbenoid biosynthesis and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Targeted metabolite analysis further confirmed that resistant genotypes possessed higher content of primary metabolites sucrose, glucose, fructose, malic acid and citric acid. Moreover, resistant genotypes possessed higher content of salicylic, coumaric, ferulic, cinnamic, gallic acid (phenolic acids) and kaempferol, quercetin and catechin (flavonols). Thus metabolites having higher accumulation in resistant genotypes can be used as biomarkers for screening of LSS resistant germplasm. These results unravel that higher amount of primary metabolites leads to stimulate the accumulation of more amounts of secondary metabolites such as phenolic acid, flavanols, stilbenes and terpenoids (squalene and β-amyrin) biosynthesis which are ultimately involved in defense mechanism against LLS pathogen.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00985-5.     

Variability of qualitative and quantitative secondary metabolites traits among wild genetic resources of Lavandula stoechas L.

Lavandula stoechas L. (Lamiaceae) is an attractive shrub native to the Mediterranean regions used for ornamental, melliferous, aromatic and medicinal purposes. Furthermore, this species presents an increasing interest in cosmetics, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. The variability of qualitative and quantitative metabolic traits among nine wild germplasms representing the distribution area of this species in Tunisia was undertaken. A total of 45 essential oil components were identified in the aerial parts of the studied germplasms. The main essential oil components were camphor (15.32–50.63%), fenchone (6.57–34.70%), 1,8-cineole (0.05–13.45%) and γ-gurjunene (1.10–12.15%). In addition to the well known chemotypes camphor/fenchone and camphor/1.8-cineole, a new chemotype camphor/γ-gurjunene was detected in Tunisian L. stoechas L. Six phenolic acids (quinic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoyquinic acid, salviolinic acid and trans cinnamic acid) and five flavonoids (luteolin-7-o-glucoside, naringin, apegenin-7-o-glucoside, quercetin and kampherol) were identified in the ethanolic extracts. Salviolinic acid (46.30–615.18 μg/g) and luteolin-7-o-glucoside (5.98–38.54 μg/g) were the most abundant phenolic compounds. A high significant phytochemical variability (p ˂ 0.01) in the accumulation of volatile and phenolic secondary metabolites among the studied germplasms was recorded. The conducted multivariate (PCA) and clustering (HCA) analyses revealed different classification pattern for essential oil and phenolic compounds. The detected phytochemical polymorphism among the investigated lavender ecotypes didn't show accordance with bioclimatic and geographical areas which suggests genetic background as the main explaining factor. The detected secondary metabolites polymorphism valorises Tunisian L. stoechas L. genetic resources as valuable plant material in further breeding programs. Moreover, an urgent in situ and ex situ conservation measures are required for these wild germplasms threatened by human over-harvesting practices and the occurring dramatic changes in climatic conditions.     

Profiling and Elucidation of the Phenolic Compounds in the Aerial Parts of Gynura bicolor and G. divaricata Collected from Different Chinese Origins

Gynura bicolor and G. divaricata are not only known to be nutritive as cultured vegetables, but also beneficial as folk medicines in East Asia. As demonstrated by the current phytochemical knowledge, the genus Gynura is a promising source of phenolics with multiple medicinal activities. To expand this phytochemical knowledge, the phenolic secondary metabolites of G. bicolor and G. divaricata were studied. From the aerial parts of these two species, collected in five different Chinese locations, two fractions of phenolic compounds with different polarity were obtained by extraction and chromatographic separation. Using UPLC/MS/MS analysis, a total of 53 phenolics were either identified by comparison with respective reference compounds or tentatively characterized by their chromatographic behavior, UV‐absorption patterns, and MS fragmentations. Some naturally existing positional isomers of O‐caffeoylquinic acid, O‐p‐coumaroylquinic acid, O‐feruloylquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid as well as their methyl esters were qualitatively characterized by their specific fragmentation patterns in targeted MS/MS. In addition, the aerial parts of the two Gynura species contained kaempferol, quercetin oligoglycosides, and a variety of derivatives of benzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, and caffeic acid. Furthermore, the distribution of phenolic compounds in the two species from different Chinese origins was discussed. Finally, an investigation of the total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity of the various phenolic fractions was completed, to evaluate the potential of the extracts of these species for medicinal development. The free‐radical‐scavenging activities of the extracts derived from plants originating from Nanjing were proven to be higher than those of the other extracts, which correlated well with their total phenolic content.     

The Phenolics of the Ornithogalum umbellatum L. (Hyacinthaceae): Phytochemical and Ecological Characterization

Ornithogalum umbellatum L. is a widely distributed species in Europe, that exhibits considerable variability at ecological, morphological, anatomical, and karyological level. Previous reports of the chemical investigations among Ornithogalum species indicate significant diversity of the secondary metabolites, as well. Knowing that environment affects the phenolic composition in plants to a large extent, the main objective of the research was to define relationship between phytochemical and ecological characters. To estimate an environmental influence on these results, plant material was collected at four habitats that differ in ecological factors and belong to two biogeographical regions: the Balkan Peninsula and the Pannonian Plane. Measured phytochemical characters are yield of dry extract, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the presence of selected phenolic compounds as well as free‐radical scavenging activity (neutralization of DPPH and OH radicals). Results revealed that all analyzed phytochemical parameters differ between investigated O. umbellatum samples. The moisture level of habitat has the highest correlation, either positive or negative, with most of phytochemical characters, and is followed by temperature and soil reaction. Light intensity and nitrogen level have mostly moderate correlation coefficient with phytochemical characters. More complex correlation is revealed between ecological factors and nine phenolic compounds, with three observed patterns of relationship.     

Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of the aerial parts from Symphytum anatolicum Boiss. and Cynoglottis barrelieri (All.) Vural & Kit Tan (Boraginaceae)

The present study is focused on the phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of Symphytum anatolicum and Cynoglottis barrelieri (Boraginaceae). Their methanol extracts were subjected to qualitative LC-MS analysis, sixteen secondary metabolites have been identified from S. anatolicum and eighteen from C. barrelieri, respectively. Sixteen among all are phenolic derivatives (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and six belong to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in the form of bases and/or N-oxides (PANOs). The observed chemical profiles are discussed chemotaxonomically as both species share the same tribe Boragineae. Caffeic acid and its derivatives together with quercetin- and kaempferol-glucosides were among the common metabolites, as they were identified in both studied plant species. Furthermore, their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by different chemical assays, together with their in vitro enzyme inhibitory properties towards cholinesterases (AChE and BChE), α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The results showed that C. barrelieri exhibited strong antioxidant activity, while S. anatolicum displayed good enzyme inhibitory effects contributing to a very interesting profile for further applications.     

Secondary metabolites,phytochemical characterization and antioxidant activities of different extracts of Sideritis congesta P.H. Davis et Hub.-Mor.

Sideritis congesta, an endemic plant to Turkey, is extensively consumed as energizing herbal tea and used as a remedy in folk medicine. This study was designed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potentials of different extracts (methanol, infusion) and fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and remaining water) of S. congesta. Antioxidant potentials of the samples were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP, CUPRAC, and total antioxidant capacity tests. Total phenolic, phenolic acid, and flavonoid contents were also evaluated spectrophotometrically. Moreover, presence of twenty-two phenolic metabolites were affirmed by using LC-MS/MS in MRM scan mode and then the quantification of verbascoside, martynoside, and leucoseptoside A was performed by using HPTLC densitometry. EtOAc fraction contained the highest phenolic content and the antioxidant activity, as well as the highest verbascoside and martynoside contents followed by R-H₂O fraction. Phytochemical studies on R-H₂O fraction, yielded seven compounds, including a phenylethanoid glycoside, verbascoside (1), two flavonoids, stachyspinoside (2), isoscutellarein 7-O-(6‴-O-acetyl)-β-allopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-glucopyranoside (3), a phenolic acid chlorogenic acid (4), an iridoid glycoside ajugoside (5), and a monoterpenoid glucoside mixture betulalbuside A (6) and 1-hydroxylinaloyl 6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7). The molecular structures of the isolated compounds were determined by NMR and MS experiments. This is the first phytochemical study on the polar constituent of S. congesta and the first report of the isolation of compounds 2, 6 and 7 from the genus Sideritis L.     

Feeding deterrency of flavonoids and related phenolics towards Schizaphis graminum and Myzus persicae: Aphid feeding deterrents in wheat

A number of naturally occurring flavonoids have been tested for their feeding deterrent activity against two aphid species, Schizaphis graminum and Myzus persicae. Most flavonoids, including a number of dihydrochalcones related to phloretin, showed strong deterrency at concentrations well within the range often found in plants. Flavanone and flavone glycosides showed weak feeding deterrency relative to their corresponding aglycones. S. graminum and M. persicae responded similarly towards the compounds tested. The feeding deterrency of wheat extracts towards S. graminum was confined to the phenolic fraction, which included the flavone tricin. The more polar phenolic fraction showed the strongest feeding deterrency towards S. graminum.     

Phytochemical study of Stachys candida Bory & Chaubard (Lamiaceae)

Phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of Stachys candida Bory & Chaubard, growing wild in Greece led to the isolation of eleven bioactive secondary metabolites. Nine flavones, one of them methylated, one phenylethanoid glycoside and one phenolic acid were isolated from the methanol extract of this plant. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was achieved on the basis of NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D spectra). The phytochemical profile was appeared to be similar with other Greek endemic Stachys species, while a strong difference was the absence of iridoids. Importantly, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds has extensively been described.     

Cloning and functional characterization of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase gene from Withania somnifera: an important medicinal plant

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is one of the most valuable medicinal plants synthesizing a large number of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites known as withanolides, the C₂₈-steroidal lactones derived from triterpenoids. Though the plant has been well characterized in terms of phytochemical profiles as well as pharmaceutical activities, not much is known about the biosynthetic pathway and genes responsible for biosynthesis of these compounds. In this study, we have characterized the gene encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR; EC 1.1.1.34) catalyzing the key regulatory step of the isoprenoid biosynthesis. The 1,728-bp full-length cDNA of Withania HMGR (WsHMGR) encodes a polypeptide of 575 amino acids. The amino acid sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis suggest that WsHMGR has typical structural features of other known plant HMGRs. The relative expression analysis suggests that WsHMGR expression varies in different tissues as well as chemotypes and is significantly elevated in response to exposure to salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, and mechanical injury. The functional color assay in Escherichia coli showed that WsHMGR could accelerate the biosynthesis of carotenoids, establishing that WsHMGR encoded a functional protein and may play a catalytic role by its positive influence in isoprenoid biosynthesis.     

In vitro conservation,phytochemistry, and medicinal activity of Artemisia tridentata Nutt.: metabolomics as a hypothesis-generating tool for plant tissue culture

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. and related species in the subgenus Tridentatae are ecologically important plants with a rich history of ceremonial and medicinal use by the indigenous people of North America. With the exception of antimicrobial and insecticidal bioassays, there is limited data to support the traditional uses of A. tridentata. Additionally, wild A. tridentata populations are declining and conservation of genetic resources is warranted. The current study was designed to (a) develop in vitro protocols to conserve A. tridentata in axenic culture and to provide plant tissues for phytochemical analysis, (b) to investigate the presence of neurologically-active phytochemicals in A. tridentata and (c) to develop metabolomics as a tool for understanding secondary metabolite biosynthesis under aseptic conditions. A collection of in vitro-grown germplasm lines was established from wild-harvested seeds of A. tridentata. Neurotransmitters acetylcholine, GABA, melatonin and serotonin were identified and quantified in the plant tissues. Crude extracts of A. tridentata inhibited acetylcholinesterase in a bioassay. A metabolomics analysis with chemometric statistics quantified changes in the phytochemical profiles of wild-harvested plants and plantlets in axenic culture. A total of 1,543 phytochemicals were found in all samples of A. tridentata including 52 significant ions putatively identified as monoterpene, phenolic or sesquiterpene compounds. Together, these data provide the foundation for further investigations of the phytochemical diversity and medicinal activity of A. tridentata and demonstrate a research approach for use of metabolomics as a tool for understanding secondary metabolite biosynthesis under aseptic conditions.     

基于广泛靶向代谢组学分析黑老虎不同部位成分差异

为提高黑老虎(Kadsura coccinea)资源的综合利用率，采用广泛靶向代谢组学技术鉴定并分析了根、茎、叶代谢组分差异及高度富集成分。结果表明，在根、茎和叶中分别鉴定出642、650和619个代谢物，以酚酸、脂质、类黄酮和有机酸为主；叶与根、茎与根的共有成分分别为566和650个，显著差异成分有442和393个，主要为酚酸、类黄酮和脂质，差异代谢物在苯丙烷生物合成、黄酮与黄酮醇生物合成通路中显著富集。代谢物总丰度和次生代谢物丰度均表现为叶>根>茎，叶中酚酸、类黄酮和脂质及茎中酚酸积累量显著高于根，而氨基酸及其衍生物、萜类、木脂素、香豆素、生物碱的丰度在根中显著上调。因此，黑老虎根、茎、叶有大量共有成分，叶和茎中酚酸、叶中类黄酮和脂质高度富集，含有新绿原酸、绿原酸、槲皮素等多个丰度较高且具有重要生物活性化合物，具有较高利用价值。     

In vitro propagation and characterization of phenolic content along with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Cichorium pumilum Jacq.

Cichorium pumilum, a member of Asteraceae, is widely used as a traditional medicinal herb. An efficient protocol for callus formation and whole plant propagation has been developed. Callus cultures were induced from leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5?mg?l^?1 6-Benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5?mg?l^?1 Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Maximum numbers of shoots were obtained from calli transferred to shoot regeneration medium containing MS basal medium with 1.5?mg?l^?1 BA or Kinetin (Kin). The shoots were effectively rooted on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of Indole-3-butyric acid. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of C. pumilum extracts was assayed in vitro by agar disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods against 10 different bacterial species. The results showed effect on the growth of 50 and 70% of the tested bacterial species using methanol and ethanol extracts respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae was susceptible to the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of wild plants and in vitro tissues, whereas Enterococcus faecalis was resistant to all the extracts. This study verified that the methanol extracts have strong antioxidant activities with high levels of phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity and total phenol content of callus cultures and in vitro plantlets were lower than those of the wild plants. The results obtained confirm the therapeutic potency of Cichorium used in the traditional medicine, in addition, the efficient in vitro production system developed in this study provide sterile and consistent tissues for the investigation of phytochemical and pharmacological effects and germplasm conservation of C. pumilum.     

Intracellular distribution and origin of pentacyclic triterpenes in Calendula officinalis leaves

In Calendula officinalis leaves the cyclization of squalene to β-amyrin and its further oxidation to oleanolic acid as well as the biosynthesis of all derivatives of oleanolic acid 3-glucoside and some derivatives of oleanolic acid 3-glucuronoside occur in the microsomal fraction. The final metabolites of oleanolic acid 3-glucoside series i.e. pentaglycosides, are translocated from this fraction, one to the cell wall and plasmalemma fraction and the other to the cytosol. The derivatives of oleanolic acid 3-glucoronoside are synthesized partially in other fractions and accumulate in the different membraneous structures of the cell.     

Distribution of some triterpenes and phenolic compounds in the extractives of endemic dipterocarpaceae species of Sri Lanka

Extractives of bark and/or timber of 11 species belonging to the genera Cotylelobium, Hopea, Shorea, Vateria and Vatica yielded a fatty-acid ester, a sitosteryl ester, β-amyrin acetate, β-amyrin, dipterocarpol, ursolic acetate, lupeol, sitosterol, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, hexamethyl-coruleoellagic acid, tetramethylellagic acid, chrysophanol and scopoletin. The distribution of these compounds in 18 other species was examined by TLC screening.     

Chemical composition of Hypericum species from the Taeniocarpium and Drosanthe sections

The presence of several phytochemicals, namely naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin, phloroglucinol derivatives hyperforin and adhyperforin, the phenolic acids as chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, the flavonols, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, avicularin, rutin, and flavanols (+)-catechin and (?)-epicatechin, as well as biflavonoid amentoflavone was investigated in seven Turkish species of Hypericum from Taeniocarpium and Drosanthe sections. Plants were harvested at flowering, dried at room temperature, dissected into different tissues and assayed for chemical contents by HPLC. All chemicals were detected at various levels depending on species and plant parts. Despite the observed quantitative variation in the chemical content of plant material, it was found that phytochemical profiles of the species from the same section were very similar. The present data could be helpful in selecting the future targets for phytochemical and biological studies as well as enriching our current chemical knowledge about Hypericum species. Such kind of data could also be useful for elucidation of the chemotaxonomical relationships among the sections of Hypericum genus.     

Biotechnological approaches for cultivation and enhancement of secondary metabolites in Arnica montana L.

Arnica montana L. (Asteraceae) is a valuable medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing properties attributed to the sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and essential oil produced in the flower heads. In many European countries, the populations of A. montana are close to extinction in their natural habitats because of uncontrolled eradication and indiscriminate collection of the plants. Various approaches for in vitro propagation of the species and also, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in tissue and cell cultures are assessed in the current review. Special attention is paid to the biological activity and chemical composition of compounds produced by the species as well as the opportunities of in vitro methods to isolate high-productive clones. The influence of different factors on the micropropagation, callusogenesis, genetic transformation and identification of certain biologically active substances is discussed in detail. By the reference to the available issues we concluded that biotechnology applied to A. montana cultivation may improved the plant preservation and increased the production of sesquiterpene lactones and other secondary metabolites.     

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of <i>Crocus speciosus</i> Leaves

The numerous studies indicate leaves of plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds that can be a valuable source of compounds used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and the antioxidant property of Crocus speciosus leaves. Primary phytochemical screening of C. speciosus leaves revealed the presence of some following compound categories such as phenolic compounds, aminoacids, saponins, proteins, tannins, triterpenoids, glycosides, polysaccharides. The total flavonoids and phenolic compounds content were determined spectrophotometrically and by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. Antiradical activity was determined by ABTS radical-cation scavenging method, spectrophotometrically. The total amount of flavonoids in C. speciosus leaves was 1.07 ± 0.02 mg RE/g (p < 0.05), the total amount of phenolic compounds was 0.41 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g (p < 0.05). By HPLC-DAD-MS analysis the presence of the mangiferin, chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, kaempferol, hyperoside, and isoquercitin was established for the first time in Crocus leaves. The antiradical activity of C. speciosus leaves extracts was 150.08 ± 4.5 μmol/g (p < 0.05) and its was mainly attributed to phenolic compounds content. The high amounts of flavonoids and antiradical activity in C. speciosus leaves suggests promising phytochemical and pharmacological study of this Crocus species.     

Cadinenes and other metabolites from Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray

The phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray afforded six sesquiterpene lactones of cadinene type, five of them described for the first time, along with known phenyl propanoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Structures on new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including CD and X-ray analyses, and known compounds were identified by comparing their spectral data with those previously reported. Cadinene-like sesquiterpene lactones could be characteristic metabolites of V. sphaerocephala.     

Antibacterial Activity of Phenolic Compounds Against the Phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is a pathogenic bacterium that causes diseases in many crop species, which leads to considerable economic loss. Phenolic compounds (a group of secondary metabolites) are widely distributed in plants and have shown to possess antimicrobial properties. The anti-Xylella activity of 12 phenolic compounds, representing phenolic acid, coumarin, stilbene and flavonoid, was evaluated using an in vitro agar dilution assay. Overall, these phenolic compounds were effective in inhibiting X. fastidiosa growth, as indicated by low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In addition, phenolic compounds with different structural features exhibited different anti-Xylella capacities. Particularly, catechol, caffeic acid and resveratrol showed strong anti-Xylella activities. Differential response to phenolic compounds was observed among X. fastidiosa strains isolated from grape and almond. Elucidation of secondary metabolite-based host resistance to X. fastidiosa will have broad implication in combating X. fastidiosa-caused plant diseases. It will facilitate future production of plants with improved disease resistance properties through genetic engineering or traditional breeding approaches and will significantly improve crop yield.     

Effects of culture medium and auxins on growth of adventitious root cultures of Cuphea aequipetala Cav. and their ability to produce antioxidant compounds

Cuphea aequipetala Cav. (Lythraceae), a species highly valued for its medicinal properties, is threatened in the wild. To provide an alternative source of material for production of bioactive compounds, we established adventitious root cultures of C. aequipetala and determined their phenolic compounds contents and antioxidant activity. Cultures were initiated from root tips of in vitro C. aequipetala plantlets and were grown in B5 or SH culture medium containing either indole butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid at 0, 5 or 10 µM. The maximum root biomass (1.6 g/L dry mass (DM) per L medium) was recorded after 14 days of growth in B5 + 5 µM IBA. Roots in B5 medium remained green, whereas they tended to oxidize in SH medium. The highest contents of total phenolic compounds (9.1 ± 0.1 µg gallic acid equivalents/g DM) and flavonoids (37.5 ± 0.7 µg quercetin equivalents/g DM) were in roots grown in B5 + 5 µM IBA after 14 days of growth. Root cultures accumulated mainly flavan-3-ols, whereas roots or leaves from whole plants accumulated mainly flavonols. We analyzed the antioxidant properties of root extracts using in vitro assays. Roots grown in B5 medium showed stronger free-radical scavenging activity than that of roots grown in SH medium. Our results show that adventitious root cultures of C. aequipetala are a promising system for research on antioxidant compounds biosynthesis and for scaled-up production of useful biological materials.