This technology increases ferulic acid production by cultivating the aquatic plant Lemna aequinoctialis in a medium containing the plant growth regulator ethephon. This same treatment also increases the production of GABA.
Although Lemna aequinoctialis is a fast-growing, easily harvested, and protein-rich non-toxic plant, it has not been fully utilized as an industrial source for ferulic acid—known for its antioxidant, skin-brightening, and anti-wrinkle effects—or GABA, which has neuro-relaxant properties. Furthermore, no methods have been proposed to boost the content of these useful compounds through simple cultivation adjustments.
This technology increases the leaf count of Lemna aequinoctialis and boosts its ferulic acid and GABA content compared to control groups simply by adding low concentrations of ethephon to the medium. Because it enhances these compounds during the cultivation stage without requiring genetic modification or complex extraction processes, it is easy to implement. It can be applied to hydroponic facilities producing cosmetic antioxidant ingredients and functional food materials, turning this rapidly growing aquatic plant into a low-cost source of ferulic acid and GABA.
This invention was developed with support from the Meta-Receptome Control Research Center of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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