Molecular networking of arachidin related compounds from elicited peanut hairy root culture and their potential activity against HCT116 colon cancer cells.

Abstract Numerous stressors are known to trigger the synthesis of phytoalexins in plants. Specifically, stilbenoids, notably trans-arachidin compounds, are induced in elicited peanut hairy root cultures. This study employed two distinct elicitation strategies on peanut hairy root cultures and analyzed stilbenoid profiles alongside their respective biological effects. Results from HPLC-UV revealed that a combination of paraquat, methyl jasmonate, and cyclodextrin (PQ + MeJA + CD) over 72 hrs notably stimulated the production of trans-resveratrol (Res), surpassing levels of trans-arachidin-1 (Ara-1) and trans-arachidin-3 (Ara-3) in the culture medium. Conversely, elicitation with chitosan, methyl jasmonate, and cyclodextrin (CHT + MeJA + CD) led to higher concentrations of Ara-1 and Ara-3 compared to Res in the medium. LC-HRMS/MS and subsequent molecular networking revealed chemical diversity among trans-arachidins and related compounds in peanut hairy root samples. Differential comparison of elicitation mixtures using CHT instead of PQ in the elicitation mixture led to increased metabolite abundances in both roots and the culture medium, with higher levels observed in the medium samples. MTT assays on HCT116 human colon cancer cells demonstrated greater cytotoxicity of extracts from the culture medium compared to root tissue extracts. This study underscores that distinct stilbenes with comparable bioactivities can be induced through various elicitation methods in peanut hairy root cultures. However, the use of CHT as an elicitor holds particular interest due to its non-toxic and environmentally friendly nature compared to PQ.