Ilex paraguariensis: the effect of genotypes and growth phase on biomass, secondary metabolism and antioxidant activity of in vitro cultivated calli

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) produces several secondary metabolites of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, such as chlorogenic acids and methylxanthines. These compounds have been produced in vitro by callus culture from different species. However, for I. paraguariensis, no studies upon the production of these compounds in vitro have been performed to date. In this work, we show that the concentration of secondary metabolites from I. paraguariensis callus is possible and highly dependent on the callus growth phase. We observed that the best phase for the production of secondary compounds in calli of yerba mate is the stationary growth phase on both genotypes tested. In this phase, higher levels of phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and greater antioxidant activity were observed. Chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid presented positive correlation with antioxidant activity. For the first time, secondary compounds were reported in yerba mate calli cultivated in vitro.