Metabolome Shift in Centella asiatica Leaves Induced by the Novel Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium, Priestia megaterium HyangYak-01

<i>Centella asiatica</i>, a traditional herb, is widely recognized for its pharmacologically active components, such as asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid. These components render it a highly sought-after ingredient in various industries, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This study aimed to enhance the production and activity of these pharmacological constituents of <i>C. asiatica</i> using the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium <i>Priestia megaterium</i> HyangYak-01 during its cultivation. To achieve this goal, the researchers conducted field experiments, which revealed an increase in the production of pharmacologically active compounds in <i>C. asiatica</i> cultivated with a <i>P. megaterium</i> HyangYak-01 culture solution. Additionally, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) confirmed that the composition ratios of the <i>C. asiatica</i> extract treated with the <i>P. megaterium</i> HyangYak-01 culture solution differed from those of the untreated control and type strain-treated groups. Skin cell experiments indicated that the <i>C. asiatica</i> extract treated with the <i>P. megaterium</i> HyangYak-01 culture solution exhibited greater skin barrier improvement and less pronounced inflammatory responses than those from plants grown without the bacterial culture solution. This study demonstrates that microbial treatment during plant cultivation can beneficially influence the production of pharmacological constituents, suggesting a valuable approach toward enhancing the therapeutic properties of plants.