Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi : Projection of Root Metabolome on Hairy Root Culture

The study characterizes flavonoid and phenylethanoid metabolites of Baikal skullcap ( Scutellaria baicalensis ). The roots of intact plants and the hairy root cultures were compared. In the culture derived from seeds of wild plants, almost the same set of metabolites as in the whole root was found. Meanwhile, the levels of methylated and glycosylated derivatives of both classes of substances were different. The roots of intact plants accumulated significant amounts of sucrose. Methylated flavones, responsible for plant protection from biotic and abiotic stress-factors, were more abundant in the hairy root cultures. In both specimens, 7‑sulfate 6-ОМе wogonin was identified for the first time. It is concluded that visualization of mass-spectrometric data of a metabolome represents a convenient tool to reveal changes in the metabolome caused by environmental factors or plant damage.