Stimulatory effect of methyl jasmonate and squalestatin on phenolic metabolism through induction of LOX activity in cell suspension culture of yew

Cell suspension cultures of Taxus baccata were treated with 2 elicitor compounds, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and squalestatin (S), individually and in combination for 7 days to determine if they mediated the enhancement of biosynthesis of endogenous jasmonate through induction of lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total antioxidants, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and LOX activities in 5-month-old yew cell cultures were studied. Our results showed that MeJA and S could stimulate production of phenol derivatives in cell suspension cultures of T. baccata. In parallel to the induction of phenolic production in elicited cells, results showed that activities of PAL and PPO enzymes and total antioxidants significantly increased in Taxus cells in response to MeJA and S. Maximal activities of lipoxygenase were obtained 48 h after treatment with MeJA (100 mu M), S (0.1 mu M), and the combination of the 2 elicitors. Results showed that MeJA and S are effective elicitors for increasing phenolic production in Taxus cell suspension cultures, likely through increasing LOX activity followed by an increase in endogenous jasmonate.