BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ENDOMETABOLITES FROM SUGAR BEET (BETA VULGARIS L.) PERICARPS

Abstract

Biologically active compounds of secondary metabolism are crucial for the regulation of seed germination and sprout development. The pericarp of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) contains such substances. The research was focused on the extraction of the secondary metabolites and the effect of multicomponent endometabolites from sugar beet pericarps on the germination of plant seeds. The chemical composition of the metabolites and sugar beet pericarps was determined by thin-layer chromatography; differentiated separation was carried out using column chromatography and gel filtration; the total content of phenolic compounds in seed balls and pericarps was determined by the method of spectrophotometry. Pericarps of sugar beet contain a great number of phenolic compounds that have a protective function. We selected four groups of phenolic compounds of different molecular weights, the share of which averaged 5Ë—10 %. When studying the effect of aqueous extracts on radish seeds it was found that the eluents of the first volumes of water (3Ë—5 ml) showed a clear stimulating effect, while further volumes of eluents (8-9 ml) had inhibitory action. In extracts of sugar beet pericarps, phenols, flavonoids and their glycosides were found, which are highly active inhibitors and growth promoters and can be used as natural biologically active compounds.