Transformation of Lettuce with rol ABC Genes: Extracts Show Enhanced Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antidepressant, and Anticoagulant Activities in Rats

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 181; no. 3; pp. 1179 - 1198
• Main Authors: Ismail, Hammad, Dilshad, Erum, Waheed, Mohammad Tahir, Mirza, Bushra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analgesics; Analgesics - chemistry; Analgesics - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anticoagulants; Anticoagulants - chemistry; Anticoagulants - pharmacology; Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - chemistry; Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants; Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; beta-Glucosidase - biosynthesis; beta-Glucosidase - genetics; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Edema; Extraction processes; Female; Genes; Inflammatory diseases; Lactuca - chemistry; Lactuca - genetics; Lactuca - metabolism; Lettuce; Male; Metabolites; Peroxidation; Phenols; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Genetically Modified - chemistry; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Rats; Rodents; Transformation, Genetic; Transgenic plants; Vegetables; Antidepressant; Antioxidants; Anticoagulant; Analgesic; genes; Anti-inflammatory; Lactuca sativa; rol genes
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-016-2277-3

Lettuce is an edible crop that is well known for dietary and antioxidant benefits. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of
rol ABC
genes on antioxidant and medicinal potential of lettuce by
Agrobacterium
-mediated transformation. Transgene integration and expression was confirmed through PCR and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The transformed plants showed 91–102 % increase in total phenolic contents and 53–65 % increase in total flavonoid contents compared to untransformed plants. Total antioxidant capacity and total reducing power increased up to 112 and 133 % in transformed plants, respectively. Results of DPPH assay showed maximum 51 % increase, and lipid peroxidation assay exhibited 20 % increase in antioxidant activity of transformed plants compared to controls. Different in vivo assays were carried out in rats. The transgenic plants showed up to 80 % inhibition in both hot plate analgesic assay and carrageenan-induced hind paw edema test, while untransformed plants showed only 45 % inhibition. Antidepressant and anticoagulant potential of transformed plants was also significantly enhanced compared to untransformed plants. Taken together, the present work highlights the use of
rol
genes to enhance the secondary metabolite production in lettuce and improve its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticoagulatory properties.