Expression Analysis of Rosmarinic Acid Biosynthetic Genes in Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Abstract

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a well-known constituent of members of Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae and exhibits various pharmacological activities such as antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. RA is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which is formed from the amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine.
We have worked on the environmental control methods for increasing the anitioxidants of Lamiaceae. In our experiments, RA was the main antioxidants of sweet basil and irradiation of blue and/or UV-B light at night had effects in the increasing of RA. We have isolated sweet basil genes involved in the biosynthesis of RA (phenylalanine ammmonia-lyase, tyrosine aminotransferase, hydroxyphenyl pyruvate reductase, etc.) and are currently analyzing expression of these genes.