The Effects of UV-B Stress on the Production of Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids in Catharanthus Roseus Hairy Roots

In nature, plants generate protective secondary metabolites in response to environmental stresses. Such metabolites include terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), which absorb UV-B light and serve putatively to protect the plant from harmful radiation. Catharanthus roseus plants, multiple shoot cultures, and cell suspension cultures exposed to UV-B light show significant increases in the production of TIAs, including precursors to vinblastine and vincristine, which have proven effective in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. Here, the effect of UV-B light on C. roseus hairy roots was examined. Analysis of alkaloid concentrations up to 168 h after UV-B exposure shows significant increases in the concentrations of lochnericine and significant decreases in the concentration of hörhammericine over time (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Our results also indicate that increasing UV-B exposure time up to 20 min caused significant increases in lochnericine, serpentine, and ajmalicine and a decrease in hörhammericine (t-test, p < 0.05).