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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling
Published on: December 18, 2011
UV-B induced changes in the secondary metabolites of Morus alba L. leaves
Xi-Da Gu1, Ming-Yao Sun, Lin Zhang
1The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China. guxida@zju.edu.cn
Abstract:
Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is harmful to plants and human beings. Many secondary metabolites, like flavonoids, alkaloids, and lignin, are UV-B absorbing compounds, which can protect the genetic material of plants. Furthermore, they are active components of herbal drugs. UV-B radiation can activate the self-protective secondary metabolism system. The results of this paper provide a method to induce bioactive secondary metabolites from mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) by UV-B irradiation in vitro. Five significantly different chromatographic peaks were found by HPLC fingerprint after induction, from which two active compounds were identified: One was chalcomoracin, a natural Diels-Alder type adduct with antibacterial activity; the other one was moracin N, which is a precursor of chalcomoracin. Their contents were 0.818 mg/g and 0.352 mg/g by dry weight, respectively.
