ROOT SPECIFIC METHYLATED FLAVONES PROTECT OF SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS

Plant specialized metabolites are small molecules known for their role in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. Understanding of the individual functions of most of these metabolites remains unknown. A border of the root of annual plants is especially attractive to clarity how the plant roots withstand biotic and abiotic challenges. A main part of the metabolites in the root the plant Scutellaria baicalensis consists of the wide variety of methylated flavones. Eight most abundant of its, mono- and polymethylated, which present the beginning and end of the plant flavone biosynthesis pathway, respectively, were detected as phenoxide-ions over the root organs (bark, cambium, xylem and decayed core) by LС-MS. This inspection recovers their location within cambium and bark. The disposition of mono-methylated wogonin and oroxylin A with it’s the putative potency to form the o-quinon anions (reductants) provide chemical protection of the root from reactive oxygen species. The tetra- and penta-methylated flavones arrange a passive hydrophobic physical barrier of the root bark. Environment threats necessitate the plant to produce the methylated flavones, which resistance mechanisms are embedded in the structures of their molecules.