ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Biochemical Activity of Biochanin A in the Green
Alga Chlorella Vulgaris Beijerinck (Chlorophyceae)
R. Czerpak*, A. Piotrowska, M. Wierzbowska
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Institute of Biology, University of Białystok,
Świerkowa 20 B, 15-950 Białystok, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2003;12(2):163-169
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ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to investigate the influence of biochanin A (isoflavone characterised by
estrogenic activity) upon the growth expressed as number of cells and the content of chlorophyll a and b,
total carotenoids, reducing sugars, water-soluble proteins and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) in the unicellular
green alga Chlorella vulgaris, as an experimental model. Biochanin A in a concentration of 10-6 M exerted
the greatest biological activity, principally, on the 6th day of cultivation, whereas during the 9th day of algal
culure it had weak stimulating properties. Under the influence of 10-6 M biochanin A, an increase in the
number of cells to the level of 186% and the content of water-soluble proteins to 255%, reducing sugars to
505%, in comparision with the control culture (taken to be 100%), was observed. Moreover, the content of
DNA was intensively stimulated in the range of 184% and RNA content reached the value 202% in regard
to the control. Among the photosynthetic pigments, stimulation of the content of chlorophyll a to the level
of 191%, chlorophyll b to 180% and total carotenoids to 172%, compared with the control culture of algae
devoid of biochanin A, was recorded.