Enhancement of Bioactive Compounds in Gymnema sylvester cell Suspension Cultures Using Green-synthesized Silver Nanoparticles

Gymnema sylvester (Retz.) R.Br.ex Sm. is a medicinally important plant. It has a diverse array of pharmacologically important bioactive metabolites such as gymnemic acids, gymnemagenin, gymnemasaponins, phenolic compounds, etc. The increasing demand for these phytochemicals necessitates the development of sustainable production strategies independent of field cultivation. In the present study, phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are assessed as nano-elicitor to enhance the production of bioactive compounds in suspension culture of G. sylvestre . Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Pteris vittata L. frond extract. Established cell suspension cultures were treated with 1, 3 and 5 ppm of AgNPs for 3, 5 and 7 days. Effects of different concentrations and treatment period on cell growth and accumulation of bioactive compounds were investigated. Among various concentrations 5ppm AgNP treatment for 3 days promoted maximum production of targated bioactive compounds compared with untreated controls. LCMS analysis confirmed elevated levels of somegymnemic acids (viz., II, V, IX, XII, XV and XVII), gymnemanol, dihydroxy gymnemic triacetate, β-amyrin related glycoside and Gymnamine (8-Hydroxy gymnamine). These findings demonstrated that phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles serve as effective nano elicitors for enhancement of bioactive metabolite production. This study thereby highlights the potential for integration of green nanotechnology and plant tissue culture techniques for the commercial exploitation of medicinal plants and the sustainable production of pharmaceutically important metabolites.