Edrees Mohammad Saleem Abu Saleh, Abdel Hadi Al Jafari, Suhaib Ibrahim Alkhamaiseh and Ahmad Abu-Awwad

This study aimed to compare the growth of Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) and the profile of its bioactive compounds, specifically rosmarinic acid, across three distinct cultivation methods: traditional agriculture, volcanic tuff, and hydroponics. A total of 180 rosemary seedlings were cultivated in a greenhouse, with 60 replicates for each method. Plant height, number of branches, and rosmarinic acid content were analyzed after 45 days using a partially validated HPLC method. The results demonstrated that hydroponics significantly increased rosmarinic acid production in both liquid and powder extracts, as evidenced by notably higher Area Under the Curve (AUC) values when compared to traditional agriculture and volcanic tuff systems. While volcanic tuff showed a moderate increase over the conventional method, particularly in branching, hydroponics proved superior for maximizing rosmarinic acid yield. Plant height was highest in hydroponically grown plants, though the cultivation method did not significantly impact it overall. This research underscores the potential of hydroponics in enhancing the production of valuable phytochemicals from medicinal plants, addressing critical concerns of sustainability and efficiency.

Pages: 440-446  |  252 Views  89 Downloads