Том 70, № 7 (2023)

The review is devoted to furanocoumarins, a class of substances that are a combination of pyrone,
benzene, and furan rings, possessing a system of conjugated double bonds (which in some cases can be disrupted). This group of compounds is currently being widely studied due to its phototoxic and medicinal properties. The work examines furanocoumarins of natural origin, identified in the family Umbelliferae, or Apiaceae, their diversity is structured; the history of their study, the currently known stages of their biosynthesis,
and examples of their biological activity in plants, cell culture and for medical use are described.

An embryogenic culture of poppy Papaver rupifragum Boiss. & Reut., which was initiated on the roots of seedlings grown from seeds on MS medium with the addition of 1 mg/L IBA, was obtained for the first time. Subsequent maintenance of the embryogenic culture was carried out on a hormone-free MS medium. Long-term cultivation and preservation of the embryogenic capacity of the culture (more than 5 years) was supported by cycles of adventitious embryoidogenesis, including the formation of callus on preexisting embryoids and the induction of new embryoids from their subsurface cells. In this regard, the resulting P. rupifragum culture can be considered as a differentiated culture in which the callus stage is an intermediate stage of development. It has been established that the surface of newly formed embryoids is covered with a surface network of extracellular matrix formed by polysaccharides, lipids, and terpenes. Histological analysis showed that embryogenic P. rupifragum culture is characterized by the formation of complexes of fused embryoids (CFE), which presumably arise either as a result of cleavage polyembryony or during the synchronous development of nearby embryoids. A study of the histology and ultrastructure of CFE revealed that the fusion of embryoids is caused by disturbances in the formation of the epidermis and cuticle. Histochemical studies have established that embryogenic P. rupifragum culture synthesizes and accumulates triacylglycerides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds (PCs), terpenes, and alkaloids. It has been shown that the quantitative and qualitative composition of the PCs and alkaloids of the P. rupifragum culture depended on the age of the culture and its differentiation, adjustable by growing conditions (light, dark). Differentiated embryogenic P. rupifragum culture retains the ability to form embryoids on a hormone-free MS medium for a long time of cultivation and can be the basis for the further development of biotechnological methods for producing medicinal compounds for cosmetology and pharmacology.

Bidens tripartita L. and Bidens pilosa L. are potential sources of biologically active substances with antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other activities. These types of strings are widely used in different countries in phytomedicine. It was established that the studied species are rich in a variety of phenolic compounds, and plants growing in temperate continental (Tatarstan) and tropical (Burundi) climates differ slightly in the content of phenolic compounds, which indicates a genetically determined narrow amplitude of variability in the metabolism of these species. Qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds showed that the studied plant species synthesize certain groups of compounds for adaptation to specific environmental conditions. Kirimiro in the Republic of Burundi and Spassky raion in the Republic of Tatarstan can be considered as promising areas for growing and collecting the plant species under study. Temperature, altitude, rainfall, and soil composition are key factors affecting phenolic content in B. pilosa and B. tripartita plants.

For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of polyphenolic compounds in extracts of Kamchatka honeysuckle berries (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) was carried out. We used 5 samples of wild honeysuckle and one variety sample Elena from the collection of the Kamchatka Research Institute of Agriculture. High-resolution tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify target analytes in the extracts. 58 polyphenolic compounds corresponding to the Caprifoliaceae family have been identified. Among the identified analytes, some compounds were determined for the first time: flavones—hydroxy genistein, diosmetin O-hexoside, chrysoeriol-O-diglucoside; flavanols—herbacetin, myricetin, astragalin, taxifolin-O-hexoside, rhamnocitrin; flavan-3-ols—epiafzelechin, epicatechin-O-hexoside, epigallocatechin-epicatechin dimer; phenolic acids—hydroxyferulic acid, hydroxy methoxy dimethylbenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, ellagic acid; stilbenes—pinosylvin, resveratrol and many other polyphenols. The richest in the content of polyphenolic compounds was the wild form variety nos. 5–23 polyphenolic compounds, followed by the Elena variety—21 polyphenolic compounds.

Under controlled environmental conditions, the authors studied the effect of extended
light/dark cycles of 24/12, 48/24, 96/48, and 120/60 h and continuous lighting on the content and ratio of
photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic pigments in a number of Solanaceae (eggplant (Solanum melongena L.),
sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.))
and Brassicaceae (broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck), mizuna (Brassica rapa ssp nipposinica
(L.H. Bailey) Hanelt), arugula (Eruca vesicaria sp. sativa Mill.), and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var.
botrytis L.)) plants. Plants were grown in controlled-climate chambers at 23°С and light intencity of
270 μmol/(m2
 s) PAR. Control plants were grown under photoperiod of 16/8 h. Continuous lighting
decreased the content of chlorophyll, its share in light-harvesting complex and chlorophyll to carotenoids
ratio, but increased chlorophyll a/b ratio and the content of anthocyanins and flavonoids; these effects were
differently manifested depending on plant species. At all other examined light/dark cycles (24/12, 48/24,
96/48, and 120/60 h) where average daily light integral did not differ from such under common photoperiod
(16/8 h), changes in pigment complex were often observed similar to photoprotective reactions occurring
upon exposure of plants to excess illumination (a decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigments, modification of their ratios, and accumulation of protective, nonphotosynthetic pigments). At the same time,
plant responses were species-specific. On the whole, the obtained results have shown that changes within the
plant pigment complex may be induced not only by excessive light energy coming to plants, but also by distribution of daily light integral in time as it occurs in response to abnormal light/dark cycles that, in the
authors’ opinion, cause a circadian asynchrony

The composition of triterpene glycosides in different in vitro tissues of cell lines (PgR–rhizogenic and PgG–hemogenic) and roots of ginseng plants (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), grown on plantations in Primorsky Krai (Russian Federation) was determined using the HPLC-MS method. More than 60 triterpene glycosides have been detected and characterized. The maximum content of ginsenosides was identified in the leaves of the hemogenic line. The total amount of ginsenosides in the PgG line embryonic tissue was lower compared to all other samples studied mainly due to the amount of protopanaxadiols. In all parts of the PgR line, the content of protopanaxatriol Re was two times higher than in the root of the intact plant. A high content of protopanaxatriols and oleanolic ginsenosides was found in the basal parts of PgR and PgG calli. Thus, morphogenic cell lines not only repeated the pattern of qualitative ginsenosides composition in comparison with individual parts of native roots and leaves but also demonstrated an increase in their diversity and quantity.

Callus cultures and microclones of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were obtained in vitro and their growth and biochemical characteristics were studied depending on the hormonal composition of the MS medium as well as on the addition of zinc ferrate nanoparticles (NPs) to the nutrient medium. During clonal micropropagation of samples, the advantage of various options for the composition of nutrient media was noted: adding NAA to the MS medium for the cultivars Lyubimchik and Vasilisk, IBA for the cultivar Fioletovy barkhat and the species sample from Germany, and IAA for species samples from Poland and Italy. It should be noted that plants of the purple-leaved cultivar Fioletovy barkhat preferred MS medium containing mineral salts at a concentration of ½ normal. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis put forward by various authors about the ability of microplants and basil callus cells to accumulate secondary metabolites as well as the possibility of controlling this process with the help of biological (mineral and hormonal composition of the nutrient medium) and physical (NP) elicitors. It was shown that the presence of zinc ferrate NPs in the MS medium contributed to the formation of callus tissue of different types of density and color. The addition of 25 μg/L NPs to the MS medium significantly increased the fresh biomass of callus tissue compared to other experimental options. In this variant, the growth index of callus tissue was the highest and amounted to 3.55. When the concentration of NPs increased to 50 μg/L, a decrease in the growth index was noted, which indicates their inhibitory effect on the proliferative activity of dedifferentiated cells. A comprehensive analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out in the resulting cell cultures. It was revealed that the accumulation of the total phenolics and flavonoids does not depend on the concentration of NPs in the MS medium.

The study characterizes flavonoid and phenylethanoid metabolites of Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis). The roots of intact plants and the hairy root cultures were compared. In the culture derived from seeds of wild plants, almost the same set of metabolites as in the whole root was found. Meanwhile, the levels of methylated and glycosylated derivatives of both classes of substances were different. The roots of intact plants accumulated significant amounts of sucrose. Methylated flavones, responsible for plant protection from biotic and abiotic stress-factors, were more abundant in the hairy root cultures. In both specimens, 7‑sulfate 6-ОМе wogonin was identified for the first time. It is concluded that visualization of mass-spectrometric data of a metabolome represents a convenient tool to reveal changes in the metabolome caused by environmental factors or plant damage.

Currently, special attention is paid to the study of the mechanisms of stress resistance of extremophile organisms that can survive in extreme conditions. Such organisms include lichens, which are symbiotic associations of fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria. The high stress resistance of lichens is due to the presence of a wide range of biologically active metabolites, including sterols. It is known that lichens have a diverse and unique sterol composition, different from that of fungi and algae. Sterol-mediated biochemical mechanisms of stress resistance in lichens have not been fully studied and not systematized. Temperature stress is quite common for lichens, which often grow in unfavorable conditions. It is known that dry lichen thalli are able to withstand temperature changes over large ranges, while hydrated thalli are much more sensitive to unfavorable temperatures. In this work, stress-induced changes in respiratory activity and membrane stability index (MSI), as well as the sterol profile of hydrated lichen thalli, of Peltigera canina (L.) Willd. under the influence of elevated (+40°С) and low (–20°С) temperatures was investigated. It was shown that unfavorable temperatures caused a suppression of respiration rate and a decrease in the MSI of lichen thalli. Chromatomass spectrometric analysis showed the presence of P. canina ergosterol, dehydroergosterol, episterol, lichesterol, and fungisterol. Under the influence of both stress factors, there was a decrease in the level of ergosterol and an increase in the proportion of episterol. Under cold stress conditions, the proportion of dehydroergosterol also increased, the proportion of lichesterol decreased, and the relative content of the more saturated sterol fungisterol remained at the control level. It can be assumed that stress-induced changes in the sterol profile of lichens under low-temperature exposure create an optimal balance of sterols in membranes, which provides conditions for the deployment of a successful strategy leading to the adaptation of the lichen to the action of a stressor.

The study is focused on the ecological and physiological properties, production, and biochemical characteristics of the diatom Nitzschia amabilis. The optimum salinity (35‒36‰), illumination (2.95 klx), and photoperiod (14 h) at which the highest specific cell growth rate is achieved was determined. The coefficient of light saturation (Ik) was calculated and turned out to be lower than one, which indicates the high energy efficiency of photosynthesis. The results of experiments on salinity showed the ability of the alga to grow in the range of 4–68‰, indicating its relatively broad euryhalinity. The biochemical composition of N. amabilis during acumulative cultivation was studied. In general, polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated in the studied strain; eicosapentaenoic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids were dominant. The main share of saturated fatty acids consisted of palmitic acid. The productivity indicators of N. amabilis in relation to lipids, fucoxanthin, and PUFAs, which were 2.5–3 times higher in the flow cultivation mode than in the cumulative mode, have been established.

The work proposed and tested a new approach to optimizing biotechnological processes, including the process of microclonal propagation. The proposed method is based on constructing a map of the similarity of the structures of molecules of secondary metabolites of plant extracts and molecules that regulate the processes of plant morphogenesis (primarily phytohormones) with subsequent prediction of the action of the extract. Lichen extract of Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. (Parmeliaceae)was used as an example, for which the range of secondary metabolites contained is well known. The structural similarity of aliphatic secondary compounds of lichen (protolichesteric and lichesteric acids) with strigolactones (to a greater extent), as well as with gibberellins and brassinosteroids, was revealed. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, a prediction was made about the dose-dependent effect of the lichen extract of C. islandica on growth processes and rhizogenesis of microshootsin vitro. This hypothesis was experimentally tested in experiments with microclonal propagation of higher plants Lonicera caerulea L. and Populus tremula L. As a result of the work carried out, it was established that the addition of extract from C. islandicaat a concentration of 10–50 mg/L in the nutrient medium increased the multiplication rate of L. caerulea (by 31%) and P. tremula (by 8%). The rhizogenic activity of the lichen extract at the same concentrations (10–50 mg/L of medium), similar to the activity of strigolactones and gibberellins, has been experimentally proven. The extract has also been shown to have a positive effect of C. islandica (50 mg/L) on elongation of microshoots of both cultures and hemogenesisof P. tremula.The proposed approach allows for optimizing studies aimed at identifying the effect of various extracts on plant morphogenesis in vitroby preliminary constructing a map of the similarity of secondary metabolites contained in extracts (including according to literature data) and known growth regulators (including phytohormones) with subsequent prediction of the effect of the extract.