Biochar Enhances Cordyline terminalis Propagation and Bioactive Compounds

Cordyline terminalis is an ornamental and medicinal plant recognized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, hypolipidemic, and wound-healing activities. Biochar, a carbonaceous substance derived from the controlled pyrolysis of biomass with limited oxygen availability, is commonly used in plant tissue culture to improve nutrient availability and adsorb toxic compounds. This research investigates the effect of biochar supplementation, applied individually or in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), on in vitro proliferation of C. terminalis. Additionally, the study explores the molecular targets of C. terminalis in the amelioration of pain and inflammation.

A randomized design with six treatments was employed to estimate the effect of biochar on in vitro multiplication of C. terminalis. Shoot tips were cultured on MS media supplemented with 0, 4, or 6 g/L biochar, with or without 1.0 mg/L BAP. Growth responses including shoot, leaf and root number, plant height, explant fresh weight and root length were assessed. Air dried plantlets from each treatment were processed to obtain methanolic extracts for GC–MS analysis to evaluate the effect of biochar on phytochemical composition. Network pharmacology approach was conducted to recognize the promising molecular targets of C. terminalis and to clarify their mechanistic association with pain and inflammation.

Biochar enhanced in vitro growth, physiological performance, and secondary metabolite accumulation, supporting its potential for sustainable plant propagation and metabolite production. Explants cultured with 1 mg/L BAP combined with 4 g/L biochar showed the highest shoot proliferation, leaf number, and explant fresh weight. In contrast, biochar alone (4–6 g/L) enhanced shoot elongation, root development, and increased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. GC–MS analysis indicated that 6 g/L biochar with BAP improved the diversity and abundance of bioactive compounds, including glucosides and sterol-related metabolites.

Venn diagram included 414 common targets which are the potential therapeutic targets through which C. terminalis may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. PPI enrichment suggested that the action of C. terminalis against inflammation/pain is likely multi-target and multi-pathway. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of the common targets supported multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism, in which the studied bioactive compounds may modulate inflammation and pain by regulating transcription factors, cytokine signaling, kinase activity, nuclear receptor pathways, and cellular stress responses.