Elicitation is one of the effective methods for enhancement of metabolite production in plants. In this study we evaluated for the first time how elicitors affect biomass and phenolic production and antioxidant potential in relation to type (salicylic acid and yeast extract) and concentration of the elicitor and harvesting time in Knautia sarajevensis. Biomass production was estimated according to the control plants cultivated in liquid MS medium without eliciting agents. Total phenol, flavonoid and flavanol contents were estimated along with antioxidant activities at different harvesting times (0, 3, 7 and 15 d post-elicitation). The differences of phenolic metabolites were analysed by HPLC-UV for all treatments at all harvesting times. The best eliciting effect was recorded after 7 d by using 100 mM salicylic acid. Secondary metabolite profile analysis showed a significant increase in the content of rosmarinic acid, as well as chlorogenic and salicylic acids. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was decreased after elicitation. Increase in peroxidase activity was recorded especially after elicitation with 100 mM salicylic acid 3 d post-elicitation.

激发是增强植物代谢产物产生的有效方法之一。在这项研究中，我们首次评估了引发剂如何影响生物量和酚类生产以及抗氧化剂潜力（与水杨酸和酵母提取物的类型），引发剂浓度和收获时间有关。。根据在没有引发剂的液体MS培养基中培养的对照植物来估计生物量产生。在不同收获时间（诱导后0、3、7和15 d），估计总酚，黄酮和黄烷醇含量以及抗氧化活性。在所有收获时间，通过所有处理的HPLC-UV分析酚类代谢物的差异。使用100 mM水杨酸在7 d后记录了最佳的诱发效果。二次代谢物分析表明，迷迭香酸以及绿原酸和水杨酸的含量显着增加。诱导后DPPH自由基清除活性降低。特别是在诱导后3天用100 mM水杨酸诱导后，记录了过氧化物酶活性的增加。