Exploring the medicinal potential of in vitro cultures for enhanced production of metabolite empowered by green silver nanoparticles in Alhagi maurorum Medik

Abstract

Abstract Alhagi maurorum, a valuable medicinal plant, presents an opportunity for sustainable biomass production and the amplification of therapeutic compounds. Here, MS Medium containing BAP (3.0 mg/L), NAA (0.1 mg/L), kinetin (0.50 mg/L) and including ascorbic acid (50.0 mg/L), adenine sulfate (25.0 mg/L), citric acid (25.0 mg/L), and arginine (25.0 mg/L) were used for callus formation, multiplication and differentiation from shoot tip with cotyledons and hypocotyl explants. The effectiveness of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth, differentiation of calli, plantlet formation and antioxidant accumulation of Alhagi maurorum tissues was investigated. The biogenic AgNPs synthesis and characterization were confirmed UV-Vis spectroscopy. The size shape and nature were confirmed via zeta potential, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM analysis. Incorporating green-synthesized AgNPs (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 12.0 mg/L) in conjunction with plant growth regulators, significantly promoted embryogenic callus formation, proliferation and differentiation, demonstrating nanotechnology's potential in plant tissue culture. Adding 8.0 mg/L AgNPs in callus cultures showed higher accumulation of total soluble protein (45.56 and 43.58 mg/gDW), total free amino acids (17.46 and 16.56 mg/gDW), and total starch (43.59 and 32.43 mg/gDW) from cotyledons and hypocotyl, respectively. Total phenolic compounds (185.68 and 179.40 mg/g DW GAE), total flavonoids (71.38 and 68.01 mg/gQE) from cotyledons and hypocotyls, respectively were reported in the cultures raised at 8.0 mg/L AgNPs concentration in MS media. Enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (97.83 and 93.34% inhibition), peroxidase (2.54 and 2.42 U), catalase (65.63 and 65.50 U), ascorbate peroxidase (0.61 and 0.49 mM/mg FW), and glutathione reductase (0.96 and 0.78 U), were reported at the same concentration of AgNPs for cotyledon and hypocotyl derived tissues, respectively. Future research should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing nanoparticle-plant interactions and addressing potential health challenges. Hence, the present research shed light on the therapeutic significance of Alhagi maurorum and the potential applications of AgNPs in the enhanced production of valuable compounds.