Thidiazuron-mediated callus culture in Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt) as a promising source of antioxidant and anti-aging potential for phytocosmeceutical applications

Abstract Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (Ivy gourd), an edible plant in the family Cucurbitaceae, is widely consumed across tropical regions, particularly Southeast Asia. Rich in diverse phytochemicals, this species exhibits multiple pharmacological activities. To establish a sustainable platform for bioactive metabolite production, plant tissue culture represents a promising alternative to wild harvesting. The aim of this study was to establish a novel callus culture system of C. grandis and to evaluate the phytochemical profile, along with the antioxidant and anti-aging activities of its extracts. Here, we report for the first time the induction and optimization of C. grandis callus culture using thidiazuron (TDZ), a potent cytokinin-like regulator, in combination with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Among the tested conditions, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L TDZ and 0.2 mg/L NAA resulted in the most robust callus formation, producing biomass yields of 162.87 g/L (fresh weight) and 8.39 g/L (dry weight). The callus extract displayed high levels of total phenolics (311.35 µg GAE/g DW) and flavonoids (545.06 µg QE/g DW). Antioxidant activity was significant in FRAP (605.16 µg TE/g DW) and ABTS (255.80 µg TE/g DW) assays. Notably, this is the first report of C. grandis callus extract demonstrating antiglycation (58.53% inhibition) and anti-aging potential, including inhibition of tyrosinase (41.06%), elastase (70.24%), and collagenase (72.48%). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis identified rutin as the major flavonoid in the extract. These findings provide valuable insights into the use of C. grandis callus cultures as a sustainable source of bioactive metabolites and highlight their potential for future phytopharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications.