Enhancing growth and flavonoid content of Eleutherine palmifolia using chitosan and NPK fertilizer under greenhouse conditions

Abstract. Rochma FA, Mudyantini W, Solichatun. 2025. Enhancing growth and flavonoid content of Eleutherine palmifolia using chitosan and NPK fertilizer under greenhouse conditions. Cell Biol Dev 9: 26-36. This study evaluated the effects of chitosan and NPK fertilizer on the growth performance, physiological traits, and flavonoid content of Eleutherine palmifolia, a medicinal plant widely used in Indonesia. A factorial experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using three chitosan concentrations (0, 0.3%, and 0.6%) and three levels of NPK fertilizer (0, 100, and 200 kg/ha). The combination of 0.6% chitosan and 200 kg/ha NPK significantly enhanced leaf number, leaf size, shoot biomass, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, as well as flavonoid concentration in the tubers. While flowering occurred in selected treatments, overall reproductive development remained limited during the 11-week cultivation period. Notably, the highest total flavonoid content in tuber extracts (6.30 mg QE/g) was recorded under the same treatment, highlighting the potential role of chitosan as a biostimulant and elicitor of secondary metabolites. Although some parameters showed non-significant interaction effects, consistent positive trends support the hypothesis that chitosan improves nutrient uptake and physiological vigor, particularly when combined with adequate macronutrients. This study emphasizes the potential of integrating biostimulant and fertilizer treatments to enhance both agronomic performance and phytochemical accumulation in E. palmifolia. These findings provide a foundation for sustainable cultivation practices aimed at increasing the functional quality of this underutilized medicinal plant for future pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications.