Tremendous enhancements of isoflavonoid biosynthesis, associated gene expression and antioxidant capacity in Astragalus membranaceus hairy root cultures elicited by methyl jasmonate

•MJ, SA and ASA were applied for enhancing isoflavonoid biosynthesis in AMHRCs.•AMHRCs augmented isoflavonoid production 9.71-fold when elicited with MJ.•Transcriptions of eight isoflavonoid biosynthetic genes were monitored by qRT-PCR.•Limiting steps of isoflavonoid biosynthesis were probably controlled by CHI and IFS genes.