Histochemical investigation of β-glucuronidase in culture cells and regenerated plants of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

Strong activity of β-glucuronidase first appeared in the epidermal and glandular hair cells of leaf primordia regenerated from callus of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Leaf primordia matured rapidly in culture to form shoots within 1 month in which both the mesophyll cells and the glandular hairs were deeply stained. Leaves predominantly accumulated β-glucuronidase in both glandular hair cells and mesophyll cells. β-Glucronidase activity in leaves was higher in the summer and decreased in the winter. The stem section collected in the summer had a different β-glucuronidase distribution pattern from that of the root in that in the former strong activity appeared in the periderm cells and collenchyma cells which was decreasingly dispersed into the phloem layer cells. In the winter, β-glucronidase activity decreased compared to that in summer. It can be argued that the distribution of β-glucuronidase in this plant is closely linked with the defense against pathogens: it is a starting key enzyme which may act together with the flavonoids, which play an important role as a proton donor for the detoxification metabolism of H₂O₂.