Improvement of morphological, physiological, and antioxidant potential in purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through exogenous treatments of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid

Zeynep E. DUVARCI; Huseyin TURKER; Bengu TURKYILMAZ UNAL

doi:10.15835/nbha53414817

Authors

Zeynep E. DUVARCI Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Biotechnology Department, Nigde, 51240 (TR) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2127-7493
Huseyin TURKER Nigde Ömer Halisdemir University, Science Faculty, Biotechnology Department, Nigde, 51240 (TR) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7309-9484
Bengu TURKYILMAZ UNAL Nigde Ömer Halisdemir University, Science Faculty, Biotechnology Department, Nigde, 51240 (TR) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4003-5200

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53414817

Keywords:

anthocyanin, basil, carotenoid, elicitor, growth and development, phenolic compound, signaling molecule

Abstract

The effects of exogenous jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on purple basil, which is used in the food industry and traditional medicine for its aromatic properties, were investigated. Purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds were sown in pots containing peat moss and germinated in a plant growth chamber at 25 ± 2 °C, under a photoperiod of 16 hours light/8 hours dark, at a light intensity of 27 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹, and at 45 ± 5% humidity. When the seedlings reached the two-leaf stage, different concentrations (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) of SA and/or JA were treated foliarly. Fifteen days after the second application, the seedlings were harvested. Morphological measurements (root-shoot length, fresh and dry weight) and physiological-biochemical analyses were performed. Root-shoot length, fresh and dry weights, photosynthetic pigment, anthocyanin, and total phenolic content, along with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, increased in all treatment groups compared to the control, while total protein content decreased. It was determined that exogenously treated SA and JA elicitors positively affected the increase in morphological and physiological parameters, as well as the antioxidant potential, in purple basil.

References

Abbaszadeh B (2019). Effects of foliar application of salicylic acid and Spermine on the growth and root morphological characteristics of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) under drought stress. Journal of Plant Process and Function 8(30):225-242. https://jispp.iut.ac.ir/browse.php?a_id=936&sid=1&slc_lang=en

Adigüzel A, Güllüce M, Şengül M, Öğütcü H, Şahin F, Karaman I (2005). Antimicrobial effects of Ocimum basilicum (Labiatae) extract. Turkish Journal of Biology 29(3):155-160. https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/vol29/iss3/4/

Al Timman WMA, Kamil TA (2019). Alleviation of salt stress in Ocimum basilicum plants by jasmonic acid treatment. Plant Archive 19:1550-1557.

Ali MB, Hahn EJ, Paek KY (2007). Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid induced oxidative stress and accumulation of phenolics in Panax ginseng bioreactor root suspension cultures. Molecules 12(3):607-621. https://doi.org/10.3390/12030607

Amer A, Ghoneim M, Shoala T, Mohamed HI (2021). Comparative studies of eco-friendly compounds like humic acid, salicylic, and glycyrrhizic acids and their nanocomposites on French basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Grand verde). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28(34):47196-47212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14022-1

Autaijamsripon J, Jirakiattikul Y, Rithichai P, Itharat A (2023). Effect of phenylalanine and methyl jasmonate on secondary metabolite production by shoot cultures of holy basil, purple-type (Ocimum sanctum L.). Science & Technology Asia 28(1):229-239. https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SciTechAsia/article/view/248896

Bagheri MZ (2014). The effect of maize priming on germination characteristics, catalase and peroxidase enzyme activity, and total protein content under salt stress. International Journal of Biosciences 4(2):104-112. https://doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.2.113-119

Baktır İ (2010). Plant growth regulators: their properties and uses in agriculture. Hasad Publishing.

Baydar H (2013). Science and technology of medicinal and aromatic plants. Süleyman Demirel University. Faculty of Agriculture Publication 51:194-212.

Bergmeyer HU (1970). Standardization of methods for estimation of enzyme activity in biological fluids. Zeitschrift für Klinische Chemie und Klinische Biochemie 8:658-660.

Boudet AM (2007). Evolution and current status of research in phenolic compounds. Phytochemistry 68(22-24):2722-2735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.06.012

Bradford MM (1976). A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical Biochemistry 72(1-2):248-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3

Brand-Williams W, Cuvelier ME, Berset CLWT (1995). Use of a free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity. LWT-Food Science and Technology 28(1):25-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0023-6438(95)80008-5

Cappellari LDR, Santoro MV, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Banchio E (2019). Improving phenolic total content and monoterpene in Mentha x piperita by using salicylic acid or methyl jasmonate combined with Rhizobacteria inoculation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(1):50. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010050

Çelebi Ç (2010). Determination of the distribution of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in basil (Ocimum basilicum) MSc Dissertation. Ankara University.

Çetiner O (2022). Effects of exogenous jasmonic acid and salicylic acid applications on carotenoid content and yield of carrots. MSc Dissertation, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University.

Ceylan A (1997). Medicinal plants II: (essential oil plants). Agricultural Faculty Publications No. 11, Ege University, Izmir

Chutimanukul P, Thongtip A, Panya A, Phonsatta N, Thangvichien S, Mosaleeyanon K, Chutimanukul P (2025). Enhancing the biochemical potential of holy basil through methyl jasmonate elicitation with insights into physiological responses in a plant factory. Scientific Reports 15(1):27518. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13463-9

Conceição LF, Ferreres F, Tavares RM, Dias AC (2006). Induction of phenolic compounds in Hypericum perforatum L. cells by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides elicitation. Phytochemistry 67(2):149-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.10.017

Cui J, Zhang R, Wu GL, Zhu HM, Yang H (2010). Salicylic acid reduces napropamide toxicity by preventing its accumulation in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 59(1):100-108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9426-4

Dudai N, Nitzan N, Gonda I (2020). Ocimum basilicum L. (Basil). In Novak J, Blüthner WD (Ed) Medicinal, aromatic and stimulant plants. Handbook of plant breeding (vol 12). Springer, Cham pp 377-405. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38792-1_10

Elhindi KM, Al-Amri SM, Abdel-Salam EM, Al-Suhaibani NA (2017). Effectiveness of salicylic acid in mitigating salt-induced adverse effects on different physio-biochemical attributes in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition 40(6):908-919. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2016.1270311

Eraslan F, Inal A, Gunes A, Alpaslan M (2007). Impact of exogenous salicylic acid on the growth, antioxidant activity and physiology of carrot plants subjected to combined salinity and boron toxicity. Scientia Horticulturae 113(2):120-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2007.03.012

Farhangi-Abriz S, Ghassemi-Golezani K (2016). Improving amino acid composition of soybean under salt stress by salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 89:243-248.

Flanigan PM, Niemeyer ED (2014). Effect of cultivar on phenolic levels, anthocyanin composition, and antioxidant properties in purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Food Chemistry 164:518-526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.061

Gayoso C, Pomar F, Merino F, Bernal MA (2004). Oxidative metabolism and phenolic compounds in Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum infected by Phytophthora capsici Leon. Scientia Horticulturae 102(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2003.11.015

Gharib FA, Abed F (2006). Effect of salicylic acid on the growth, metabolic activities and oil content of basil and marjoram. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 4:485-492.

Hasan SR, Hossain MM, Akter R, Jamila M, Mazumder MEH, Rahman S (2009). DPPH free radical scavenging activity of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 3(11):875-879.

Hashmi N, Khan MMA, Moinuddin Idrees M, Aftab T (2012). Exogenous salicylic acid stimulates physiological and biochemical changes to improve growth, yield and active constituents of fennel essential oil. Plant Growth Regulation 68(2):281-291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-012-9716-0

Kahveci H, Bilginer N, Diraz-Yildirim E, Kulak M, Yazar E, Kocacinar F, Karaman S (2021). Priming with salicylic acid, β-carotene and tryptophan modulates growth, phenolics and essential oil components of Ocimum basilicum L. grown under salinity. Scientia Horticulturae 281:109964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.109964

Karalija E, Parić A (2017). Effects of salicylic acid foliar application on growth and antioxidant potential of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Biologica Nyssana 8(2):145-150.

Karamian R, Ghasemlou F, Amiri H (2020). Physiological evaluation of drought stress tolerance and recovery in Verbascum sinuatum plants treated with methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 154(3):277-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2019.1591535

Karataş İ (2022). Production of rosmarinic acid and biomass from adventitious root cultures of Ocimum basilicum by optimization of medium components in airlift bioreactors. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 151(2):235-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-022-02347-9

Khanpour-Ardestani N (2015). Effect of methyl jasmonate on antioxidant enzyme activities, phenolic and flavonoid compounds in Scrophularia striata cell culture. Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology) 27(5):840-853.

Kim HJ, Chen F, Wang X, Choi JH (2006a). Effect of methyl jasmonate on phenolics, isothiocyanate, and metabolic enzymes in radish sprout (Raphanus sativus L.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54(19):7263-7269. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf060568c

Kim HJ, Chen F, Wang X, Rajapakse NC (2006b). Effect of methyl jasmonate on secondary metabolites of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54(6):2327-2332. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf051979g

Kim SH, Kim YS, Jo YD, Kang SY, Ahn JW, Kang BC, Kim JB (2019). Sucrose and methyl jasmonate modulate the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and increase the frequency of flower-color mutants in chrysanthemum. Scientia Horticulturae 256:108602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.108602

Koca N, Karaman Ş (2015). The effects of plant growth regulators and L-phenylalanine on phenolic compounds of sweet basil. Food Chemistry 166:515-521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.06.065

Kovač M, Ravnikar M (1994). The effect of jasmonic acid on the photosynthetic pigments of potato plants grown in vitro. Plant Science 103(1):11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9452(94)03974-7

Kulak M (2016). Effects of water stress and salicylic acid pre-treatments on the physiological parameters and protein content of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). PhD Thesis. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş.

Linkies A, Leubner-Metzger G (2012). Beyond gibberellins and abscisic acid: how ethylene and jasmonates control seed germination. Plant Cell Reports 31(2):253-270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1180-1

Lopes AS, Dias TJ, Henschel JM, da Silva JHB, de Oliveira Sousa VF, Targino VA, Batista DS (2025). Methyl jasmonate mitigates drought stress in purple basil by enhancing photosynthesis and secondary metabolism. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 44(1):233-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-024-11392-x

Lopes AS, Dias TJ, Henschel JM, da Silva TI, de Moura VS, Silva AMO, Batista DS (2024). Methyl jasmonate mitigates salt stress and increases quality of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). South African Journal of Botany 171:710-718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.06.039

Mahmoudi D, Shekari F, Afsahi K, Maleki A (2022). Evaluation of the responses of basil to the application of salicylic acid and gibberellic acid. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 109(2):131-138.

Malekpoor F, Salimi A, Pirbalouti AG (2016). Effect of jasmonic acid on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extract from the green and purple landraces of sweet basil. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica 73(5):1229-1234.

Mancinelli AL (1984). Photoregulation of anthocyanin synthesis: VIII. Effect of light pretreatments. Plant Physiology 75(2):447-453. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.75.2.447

Marshall E (2011). Health and wealth from medicinal aromatic plants. FAO Diversification Booklet 17 (FAO). Rome. https://www.fao.org/4/i2473e/i2473e00.pdf

Meftahizadeh M, Shahhoseini R, Ghanbari F (2025). Biochemical, physiological and phenotypic variation in Ocimum basilicum L. cultivars under salt stress conditions. BMC Plant Biology 25(1):1190. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07283-2

Mihai R, Mitoi M, Brezeanu A, Cogalniceanu G (2010). Two–stage system, a possible strategy for the enhancement of anthocyanin biosynthesis in a long-term grape callus cultures. Romanian Biotechnological Letters 15(1):5025-5033.

Nazir S, Jan H, Zaman G, Ahmed N, Drouet S, Hano C, Abbasi BH (2021). Synergistic effects of salicylic acid and light stress on bioactive metabolites in basil callus cultures. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 37:102176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102176

Pascholati SF, Nicholson RL, Butler LG (1986). Phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity and anthocyanin accumulation in wounded maize mesocotyls. Journal of Phytopathology 115(2):165-172. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.1986.tb00874.x

Poonam S, Kaur H, Geetika S (2013). Effect of jasmonic acid on photosynthetic pigments and stress markers in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. seedlings under copper stress. American Journal of Plant Sciences 4(4):817-823. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.44100

Rao MV, Lee HI, Creelman RA, Mullet JE, Davis KR (2000). Jasmonic acid signaling modulates ozone-induced hypersensitive cell death. The Plant Cell 12(9):1633-1646. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.12.9.1633

Raskin I (1992). Role of salicylic acid in plants. Annual Review of Plant Biology 43(1):439-463. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pp.43.060192.002255

Razavi K (2012). Gene expression and activity of phenyl alanine amonia-lyase and essential oil composition of Ocimum basilicum L. at different growth stages. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology 10(1):32-39.

Rudell DR, Mattheis JP, Fan X, Fellman JK (2002). Methyl jasmonate enhances anthocyanin accumulation and modifies production of phenolics and pigments inFuji'Apples. Journal-American Society for Horticultural Science 127(3):435-441.

Shalaby TA, El-Newiry NA, El-Tarawy M, El-Mahrouk ME, Shala AY, El-Beltagi HS, El-Ramady H (2023). Biochemical and physiological response of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) to foliar application of salicylic acid and potassium humate in different soil growth media. Gesunde Pflanzen 75(2):223-236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00693-4

Simon JE, Morales MR, Phippen WB, Vieira RF, Hao Z (1999). Basil: A source of aroma compounds and a popular culinary and ornamental herb. Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses 16:499-505.

Singleton VL, Rossi JA (1965). Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic-phosphotungstic acid reagents. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 16(3):144-158. https://doi.org/10.5344/ajev.1965.16.3.144

Sorial ME, El-Gamal SM, Gendy AA (2010). Response of sweet basil to jasmonic acid application in relation to different water supplies. Bioscience Research 7(1):39-47

Staswick PE, Raskin I, Arteca RN (1995). Jasmonates, salicylic acid and brassinosteroids. In Davies PJ (Ed). Plant hormones: physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Springer Netherlands pp 179-213. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0473-9_1

Staswick PE, Su W, Howell SH (1992). Methyl jasmonate inhibition of root growth and induction of a leaf protein are decreased in an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 89(15):6837-6840. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.89.15.6837

Sudha G, Ravishankar GA (2003). Elicitation of anthocyanin production in callus cultures of Daucus carota and involvement of calcium channel modulators. Current Science 84(6):775-779. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24107581

Szymanowska U, Złotek U, Karaś M, Baraniak B (2015). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity of anthocyanins from purple basil leaves induced by selected abiotic elicitors. Food Chemistry 172:71-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.09.043

Taheri Z, Vatankhah E, Jafarian V (2020). Methyl jasmonate improves physiological and biochemical responses of Anchusa italica under salinity stress. South African Journal of Botany 130:375-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.01.026

Tajik S, Niknam V (2015). Effects of salicylic acid on carotenoids and antioxidant activity of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Applied Food Biotechnology 2(4):33-37. https://doi.org/10.22037/afb.v2i4.9739

Tang H, Hu J, Zhao M, Cao L, Chen Y. (2023). Comparative study of the physiological responses, secondary metabolites, and gene expression of medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris L. treated with exogenous methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 45(2):20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-022-03498-0

Telci I (2005). Determination of suitable plant heights in Reyhan (Ocimum basilicum L.) genotypes. Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Gaziosmanpaşa University 2005(2):77-83.

Telci I, Bayram E, Yılmaz G, Avcı B (2006). Variability in essential oil composition of Turkish basils (Ocimum basilicum L.). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 34(6):489-497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2006.01.009

Thiruvengadam M, Baskar V, Kim SH, Chung IM (2016). Effects of abscisic acid, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid on the content of phytochemicals and their gene expression profiles and biological activity in turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa). Plant Growth Regulation 80(3):377-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-016-0178-7

Tsai FY, Hung KT, Kao CH (1996). An increase in ethylene sensitivity is associated with jasmonate-promoted senescence of detached rice leaves. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 15(4):197-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00190584

Tukey JW (1954). Causation, regression, and path anaysis. In: Kempthorne O (Ed). Statistics and mathematics in biology. Iowa State College Press pp 35-66.

Türkmen M (2021). The effect of different Phenological periods and harvest times on the essential oil ratio and components of basil genotypes. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants 24(1):94-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2021.1894243

Turkyılmaz B, Aktaş LY, Güven A (2005). Some physiological and biochemical changes in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Journal of Firat University Science and Engineering 17(2):319-326.

Usman H, Ullah MA, Jan H, Siddiquah A, Drouet S, Anjum S, Abbasi BH (2020). Interactive effects of wide-spectrum monochromatic lights on phytochemical production, antioxidant and biological activities of Solanum xanthocarpum callus cultures. Molecules 25(9):2201. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092201

Villamarin S (2017). Application of jasmonates to improve the production of secondary metabolites in plants of agricultural interest, in vitro and in vivo cultivation. PhD Thesis, University of Pisa.

Wang C, Zhang J, Xie J, Yu J, Li J, Lv J, Patience BE (2022). Effects of preharvest methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid treatments on growth, quality, volatile components, and antioxidant systems of Chinese chives. Frontiers in Plant Science 12:767335. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.767335

Witham FH, Blaydes DF, Devlin RM (1971). Experiments in plant physiology. Van Nostrand, New York p 245.

Złotek U, Michalak-Majewska M, Szymanowska U (2016a). Effect of jasmonic acid elicitation on the yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oil of lettuce leaf basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Food Chemistry 213:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.06.052

Złotek U, Szychowski KA, Świeca M (2017). Potential in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effect of arachidonic acid-elicited basil leaves. Journal of Functional Foods 36:290-299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.07.024

Złotek U, Szymanowska U, Karaś M, Świeca M (2016b). Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potential of phenolics from purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves induced by jasmonic, arachidonic and β-aminobutyric acid elicitation. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 51(1):163-170. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.12970