Elicitor-mediated enhancement of rosmarinic acid biosynthesis in cell suspension cultures of Lavandula angustifolia and in vitro biological activities of cell extracts

Abstract

Lavandula angustifolia is widely reported for its biological activities and essential compounds. However, research confirming the physiological activities of L. angustifolia cell suspension culture extracts is limited. In this study, a high-yield method utilizing elicitation techniques was developed, specifically aimed at enhancing the production of rosmarinic acid (RA) in L. angustifolia cell suspension cultures. Among the various elicitors tested, methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatment was the most effective in enhancing RA production. The highest RA production [16.4 mg/g dry weight (DW)] was observed in cell suspension cultures treated with 100 μM MJ for 3 days. MJ application activated the expression of structural genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, TAT, HPPR, AAT1, and CYP450) involved in the RA biosynthetic pathway, thereby significantly enhancing RA production. Furthermore, extracts from MJ-treated cell cultures grown in a 1-ton bioreactor exhibited significantly high antioxidant activity, inhibition of melanin synthesis, and enhanced procollagen synthesis. These findings not only demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale cultures of MJ-treated L. angustifolia cells but also highlight their industrial potential for applications in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. © 2025 The Authors