Elicitation of plumbagin by chitin and its release into the medium in Drosophyllum lusitanicum Link. suspension cultures

Polysaccharides (chitin/pectin) that are involved in the interactions between plants and microorganisms were applied to the cultured cells of Drosophyllum lusitanicum. In the case of chitin addition, elicitation and crystallization of plumbagin in the medium were observed. N-Acetylchitooligosaccharides smaller than heptamers [(GlcNAc)(n) (n<7)] elicited the biosynthesis of plumbagin but did not increase the hypersensitive response (HR). On the other hand, carboxymethylchitin (DP similar to 200) led to the accumulation of plumbagin in cells and to HR death as well as to the lysis of the cells and release of plumbagin into the medium. The response of cultured cells to the N-Acetylchitosaccharides varied depending on the chemo/physiological conditions of the cells. Addition of pectin (1 g/l) resulted in enhanced HR and decreased biosynthesis of plumbagin.