Effect of Elicitors Application on Phenolics Content, Antioxidant Properties and Curcumin Content of in vitro Propagated Leaves and Rhizomes of Curcuma caesia

Abstract

Curcuma caesia Roxb., commonly known as black turmeric, has high medicinal and economic value, primarily due  to its wide range of bioactive compounds. Due to overharvesting and habitat destruction, C. caesia populations have been reduced drastically. Conventional propagation through rhizomes is inefficient due to susceptibility to microbial infections, long maturation periods, and unstable bioactive compounds content. This study aimed to enhance phenolics content, antioxidant properties, and curcumin content in in vitro propagated C. caesia through application of elicitors. C. caesia plantlets were treated with different concentrations of methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, silver nitrate, chitosan, and yeast extract. The total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidants, and curcumin content in leaves and rhizomes were assessed. At 200 μM, methyl jasmonate significantly enhanced total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content and antioxidant properties in leaves and rhizomes. Silver nitrate (200 μM) and methyl jasmonate (100 to 200 μM) yielded the highest total curcumin content. Overall, methyl jasmonate was the most effective elicitor for improving phenolics content, antioxidant activities and curcumin accumulation. These findings highlight the potential of elicitor-based strategies, particularly methyl jasmonate, as an effective and sustainable approach to enhance the yield and quality of pharmaceutically important bioactive compounds in C. caesia, offering promising prospects for its conservation, commercial cultivation and medicinal applications.