Production of stilbenoids and phenolic acids by the peanut plant at early stages of growth

J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 17;54(10):3505-11. doi: 10.1021/jf0602673.

Abstract

The peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea) is known to produce stilbene phytoalexins as a defensive response to fungal invasion; however, the distribution of phytoalexins among different organs of the peanut plant at early stages of growth under axenic conditions has not been studied. Axenic plants produced a stilbenoid, resveratrol, as well as soluble bound and free phenolic acids, including 4-methoxycinnamic acid, which is reported in peanuts for the first time. Neither resveratrol nor phenolic acids were found in the root mucilage; the prenylated stilbenes were restricted to the mucilage and were not found in other organs of the peanut plant. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the defensive role of peanut stilbenes and phenolic acids.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Arachis / chemistry*
  • Arachis / metabolism
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Cinnamates / analysis
  • Hydrolysis
  • Hydroxybenzoates / analysis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Phytoalexins
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Resveratrol
  • Seedlings / chemistry
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Stilbenes / analysis*
  • Terpenes / analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cinnamates
  • Hydroxybenzoates
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Stilbenes
  • Terpenes
  • 4-methoxycinnamic acid
  • Resveratrol
  • Phytoalexins