Using a combination of chitosan, methyl jasmonate, and cyclodextrin as an effective elicitation strategy for prenylated stilbene compound production in Arachis hypogaea L. hairy root culture and their impact on genomic DNA

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) hairy roots are a potential tool for stilbene compound production. This study focuses on the most efficient elicitation strategy for inducing stilbene compound production, especially for the prenylated forms of trans-arachidin-1 and trans-arachidin-3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneous treatment involving chitosan (CHT), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and cyclodextrin (CD); CHT+MeJA+CD in peanut hairy roots to induce substantial amounts of trans-arachidin-1 and trans-arachidin-3 at 72 h of the elicitation period. The results demonstrate the highest amounts of trans-arachidin-1 and trans-arachidin-3, with 684.30 ± 183.85 and 543.94 ± 171.17 mg/g dry weight of hairy roots, respectively. The highest antioxidant capacity determined by ABTS and FRAP assays was 188.95 ± 0.43 µmol Trolox/g dry weight of hairy roots and 24.61 ± 0.50 mg ascorbic acid/g dry weight of hairy roots, respectively, while the highest phenolic content was also detected in this crude extract, with 8.67 ± 0.11 mg gallic acid/g dry weight of hairy roots. The antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity of the CHT+MeJA+CD crude extract in the protection and damage of DNA is of great interest and can have major positive impacts on health promotion and disease prevention.