Glucosylation of ethanol in Ilex paraguariensis cell suspension cultures

To study the stress and defense response of plant cell cultures of Ilex paraguariensis St. I-Ill., methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and cellulase were added, with ethanol and water used as controls. Comparison of methanolic extracts of the treated cells showed a clear decrease in the carbohydrate content of the cells relative to the controls. One new major compound was observed, which was isolated and identified by its spectral data as 1-O-ethyl-beta-glucopyranoside. This compound was found especially in the cells treated with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, which were both dissolved in ethanol. Addition of ethanol alone also resulted in the formation of the glucoside. Addition of methanol lead to the formation of the corresponding glucoside, while n-propanol addition resulted in only a small amount of the propyl glucoside; with n-butanol, n-octanol, and n-decanol, the corresponding glucosides could not be observed. Cell growth was severely affected by addition of the higher alcohols. From the present study, it is clear that ethanol cannot be considered as an inert solvent for these cell cultures.