Studies on Comparative Impact of Chitosan and Penicillium Expansum for Flavonoids Elicitation in Blumea Lacera (Burm. F.) Dc Cell Culture

Elicitation of flavonoids in cell suspension culture of Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC was carried out using chemical elicitor, chitosan and biological elicitor, Penicillium expansum. Each elicitor was used in three different concentration and treatment duration. Chitosan was used in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg concentration Whereas 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.2% of Penicillium expansum homogenate was used as elicitor. Aluminium chloride colorimetric assay revealed that Chitosan with higher dose (20 mg) was the most favourable treatment dose among all the studied treatment concentrations and durations that yields maximum elicitation of flavonoids (3.5 fold, 96 hr treatment). The treatment of Penicillium expansum elicitor revealed most fluctuating results for flavonoid at lower and moderate treatment duration (2 and 5 days). The total flavonoid content (0.057 mg/g) was measured in 0.3% of Penicillium expansum elicitor with 5 days treatment duration. The treatment of higher dose of Penicillium expansum elicitor and treatment duration had no impact on flavonoid elicitation.