Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites Using Plant Tissue Culture and Bioreactor Culture Techniques

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 33797

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Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Center for the Development of Advanced Horticultural Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea
Interests: Large-scale production of secondary metabolites; Mass propagation of horticultural plants; Bioreactor culture techniques

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Guest Editor
Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea and Department of Botany, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580003, India
Interests: Bioactive compounds; Bioreactor cultures; Plant cell; Tissue culture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolics, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which have pharmaceutical and therapeutic value. Secondary metabolites have been used extensively in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Secondary metabolites can be produced continuously, sustainably, economically, and successfully in plant tissue cultures such as callus, cell, shoot, embryo, adventitious root, and transgenic root cultures. In a variety of bioreactors, including stirred tanks, bubble columns, airlifts, temporary immersion chambers, and other modified bioreactors, cells, shoots, embryos, and adventitious and transgenic root cultures have been developed. The gaseous atmosphere, oxygen supply, pH, minerals, carbohydrates, growth regulators, rheology of the liquid medium, cell density, and other elements that have been thoroughly studied in various plant species are among the various factors affecting biomass and metabolite accumulation in bioreactors. Elicitation, immobilization, nutrient, and precursor feeding strategies have been developed. The production of useful plant secondary metabolites using plant tissue cultures is the main topic of this Special Issue of Plants. A special focus will also be placed on bioreactor designs, bioreactor cultures, strategies, and methods for enhancing the accumulation of biomass and metabolites.

Prof. Dr. Kee-Yoeup Paek
Prof. Dr. Hosakatte Niranjana Murthy
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • adventitious root cultures
  • bioprocess techniques
  • bioreactor cultures
  • biotransformation
  • cell suspension cultures
  • callus cultures
  • elicitation
  • embryo cultures
  • immobilization
  • secondary metabolites
  • shoot cultures
  • strategies of biomass and metabolite accumulation
  • transgenic root or hairy root cultures

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1438 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Dual Nature of Heavy Metals: Stressors and Promoters of Phenolic Compound Biosynthesis in Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench In Vitro
by Sumanta Das, Kaniz Wahida Sultana, Moupriya Mondal, Indrani Chandra and Ashwell R. Ndhlala
Plants 2024, 13(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010098 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1516
Abstract
The global industrial revolution has led to a substantial rise in heavy metal levels in the environment, posing a serious threat to nature. Plants synthesize phenolic compounds under stressful conditions, which serve as protective agents against oxidative stress. Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench is [...] Read more.
The global industrial revolution has led to a substantial rise in heavy metal levels in the environment, posing a serious threat to nature. Plants synthesize phenolic compounds under stressful conditions, which serve as protective agents against oxidative stress. Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench is an herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family. Some species within this family are recognized for their capacity to remediate sites contaminated with heavy metals. In this study, the effects of mercury (II) chloride and lead (II) nitrate on the in vitro propagation of B. polystachyon were investigated. Shoot tips from in vitro plantlets were cultured in Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) media with heavy metals ranging from 1 to 200 µM to induce abiotic stress and enhance the accumulation of phenolic compounds. After three weeks, MS medium with 1 µM of lead (II) supported the highest shoot multiplication, and the maximum number of roots per explant was found in 100 µM of lead (II), whereas a higher concentration of heavy metals inhibited shoot multiplication and root development. The plantlets were hardened in a greenhouse with a 96% field survival rate. Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) was used to detect heavy metal contents in plant biomass. At both 200 µM and 50 µM concentrations, the greatest accumulation of mercury (II) was observed in the roots (16.94 ± 0.44 µg/g) and shoots (17.71 ± 0.66 µg/g), respectively. Similarly, lead (II) showed the highest accumulation in roots (17.10 ± 0.54 µg/g) and shoots (7.78 ± 0.26 µg/g) at 200 µM and 50 µM exposures, respectively. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) identified and quantified various phenolic compounds in B. polystachyon leaves, including gallic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, rosmarinic acid, and trans-cinnamic acid. These compounds were found in different forms, such as free, esterified, and glycosylated. Mercury (II)-exposed plants exhibited elevated levels of vanillic acid (1959.1 ± 3.66 µg/g DW), ellagic acid (213.55 ± 2.11 µg/g DW), and rosmarinic acid (187.72 ± 1.22 µg/g DW). Conversely, lead (II)-exposed plants accumulated higher levels of caffeic acid (42.53±0.61 µg/g DW) and p-coumaric acid (8.04 ± 0.31 µg/g DW). Trans-cinnamic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in control plants, with a concentration of 207.74 ± 1.45 µg/g DW. These results suggest that sublethal doses of heavy metals can act as abiotic elicitors, enhancing the production of phenolic compounds in B. polystachyon. The present work has the potential to open up new commercial opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. Full article
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19 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
Suspension Cell Culture of Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms in Bubble-Type Bioreactors—Growth Characteristics, Triterpene Glycosides Accumulation and Biological Activity
by Maria V. Titova, Dmitry V. Kochkin, Elena S. Sukhanova, Elena N. Gorshkova, Tatiana M. Tyurina, Igor M. Ivanov, Maria K. Lunkova, Elena V. Tsvetkova, Anastasia Orlova, Elena V. Popova and Alexander M. Nosov
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3641; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203641 - 22 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, or Ming aralia, is a medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, which is highly valued for its antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, adaptogenic, and other properties. The plant can be potentially used to treat diabetes and its complications, ischemic [...] Read more.
Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, or Ming aralia, is a medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, which is highly valued for its antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, adaptogenic, and other properties. The plant can be potentially used to treat diabetes and its complications, ischemic brain damage, and Parkinson’s disease. Triterpene glycosides of the oleanane type, such as 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (PFS), ladyginoside A, and polysciosides A-H, are mainly responsible for biological activities of this species. In this study, cultivation of the cell suspension of P. fruticosa in 20 L bubble-type bioreactors was attempted as a sustainable method for cell biomass production of this valuable species and an alternative to overexploitation of wild plant resources. Cell suspension cultivated in bioreactors under a semi-continuous regime demonstrated satisfactory growth with a specific growth rate of 0.11 day−1, productivity of 0.32 g (L · day)−1, and an economic coefficient of 0.16 but slightly lower maximum biomass accumulation (~6.8 g L−1) compared to flask culture (~8.2 g L−1). Triterpene glycosides PFS (0.91 mg gDW−1) and ladyginoside A (0.77 mg gDW−1) were detected in bioreactor-produced cell biomass in higher concentrations compared to cells grown in flasks (0.50 and 0.22 mg gDW−1, respectively). In antibacterial tests, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cell biomass extracts against the most common pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant strain MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli varied within 250–2000 µg mL−1 which was higher compared to extracts of greenhouse plant leaves (MIC = 4000 µg mL−1). Cell biomass extracts also exhibited antioxidant activity, as confirmed by DPPH and TEAC assays. Our results suggest that bioreactor cultivation of P. fruticosa suspension cell culture may be a perspective method for the sustainable biomass production of this species. Full article
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16 pages, 2316 KiB  
Article
Fungal Elicitation Enhances Vincristine and Vinblastine Yield in the Embryogenic Tissues of Catharanthus roseus
by Dipti Tonk, Abdul Mujib, Mehpara Maqsood, Mir Khusrau, Ali Alsughayyir and Yaser Hassan Dewir
Plants 2023, 12(19), 3373; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193373 - 25 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1950
Abstract
Fungal elicitation could improve the secondary metabolite contents of in vitro cultures. Herein, we report the effect of Fusarium oxysporum on vinblastine and vincristine alkaloid yields in Catharanthus roseus embryos. The study revealed increased yields of vinblastine and vincristine in Catharanthus tissues. Different [...] Read more.
Fungal elicitation could improve the secondary metabolite contents of in vitro cultures. Herein, we report the effect of Fusarium oxysporum on vinblastine and vincristine alkaloid yields in Catharanthus roseus embryos. The study revealed increased yields of vinblastine and vincristine in Catharanthus tissues. Different concentrations, i.e., 0.05% (T1), 0.15% (T2), 0.25% (T3), and 0.35% (T4), of an F. oxysporum extract were applied to a solid MS medium in addition to a control (T0). Embryogenic calli were formed from the hypocotyl explants of germinating seedlings, and the tissues were exposed to Fusarium extract elicitation. The administration of the F. oxysporum extract improved the growth of the callus biomass, which later differentiated into embryos, and the maximum induction of somatic embryos was noted T2 concentration (102.69/callus mass). A biochemical analysis revealed extra accumulations of sugar, protein, and proline in the fungus-elicitated cultivating tissues. The somatic embryos germinated into plantlets on full-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.24 µM of BA. The germination rate of the embryos and the shoot and root lengths of the embryos were high at low doses of the Fusarium treatment. The yields of vinblastine and vincristine were measured in different treated tissues via high-pressure thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The yield of vinblastine was high in mature (45-day old) embryos (1.229 µg g−1 dry weight), which were further enriched (1.267 µg g−1 dry weight) via the F. oxysporum-elicitated treatment, especially at the T2 concentration. Compared to vinblastine, the vincristine content was low, with a maximum of 0.307 µg g−1 dry weight following the addition of the F. oxysporum treatment. The highest and increased yields of vinblastine and vincristine, 7.88 and 15.50%, were noted in F. oxysporum-amended tissues. The maturated and germinating somatic embryos had high levels of SOD activity, and upon the addition of the fungal extracts, the enzyme’s activity was further elevated, indicating that the tissues experienced cellular stress which yielded increased levels of vinblastine and vincristine following the T2/T1 treatments. The improvement in the yields of these alkaloids could augment cancer healthcare treatments, making them easy, accessible, and inexpensive. Full article
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11 pages, 894 KiB  
Article
Plant Growth Regulator- and Elicitor-Mediated Enhancement of Biomass and Andrographolide Production of Shoot Tip-Culture-Derived Plantlets of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. (Hempedu Bumi)
by Aicah Patuhai, Puteri Edaroyati Megat Wahab, Martini Mohammad Yusoff, Yaser Hassan Dewir, Ali Alsughayyir and Mansor Hakiman
Plants 2023, 12(16), 2953; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12162953 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. (Acanthaceae) is revered for its medicinal properties. In vitro culture of medicinal plants has assisted in improving both the quantity and quality of their yield. The current study investigated the effects of different surface sterilization treatments, plant growth regulators [...] Read more.
Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. (Acanthaceae) is revered for its medicinal properties. In vitro culture of medicinal plants has assisted in improving both the quantity and quality of their yield. The current study investigated the effects of different surface sterilization treatments, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and elicitors on culture establishment and axillary shoot multiplication of A. paniculata. Subsequently, the production of andrographolide in the in vitro plantlets was evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The shoot-tip explant was successfully sterilized using 60% commercial bleach for 5 min of immersion with a 90% survival rate and 96.67% aseptic culture. The optimal PGR for shoot growth was 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 17.76 µM, supplemented into Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, producing 23.57 ± 0.48 leaves, 7.33 ± 0.10 shoots, and a 3.06 ± 0.02 cm length of shoots. Subsequently, MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L chitosan produced 26.07 ± 0.14 leaves, 8.33 ± 0.07 shoots, and a 3.63 ± 0.02 cm length of shoots. The highest andrographolide content was obtained using the plantlets harvested from 5 mg/L chitosan with 2463.03 ± 0.398 µg/mL compared to the control (without elicitation) with 256.73 ± 0.341 µg/mL (859.39% increase). The results imply that the protocol for the shoot-tip culture of A. paniculata was developed, and that elicitation enhanced the herbage yield and the production of andrographolide. Full article
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17 pages, 3420 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Composition and Detection of Novel Bioactives in Anther Callus of Catharanthus roseus L.
by Yashika Bansal, A. Mujib, Jyoti Mamgain, Yaser Hassan Dewir and Hail Z. Rihan
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2186; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112186 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3057
Abstract
Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don is the most widely studied plant because of its high pharmacological value. In vitro culture uses various plant parts such as leaves, nodes, internodes and roots for inducing callus and subsequent plant regeneration in C. roseus. However, [...] Read more.
Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don is the most widely studied plant because of its high pharmacological value. In vitro culture uses various plant parts such as leaves, nodes, internodes and roots for inducing callus and subsequent plant regeneration in C. roseus. However, till now, little work has been conducted on anther tissue using plant tissue culture techniques. Therefore, the aim of this work is to establish a protocol for in vitro induction of callus by utilizing anthers as explants in MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of PGRs. The best callusing medium contains high α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and low kinetin (Kn) concentrations showing a callusing frequency of 86.6%. SEM–EDX analysis was carried out to compare the elemental distribution on the surfaces of anther and anther-derived calli, and the two were noted to be nearly identical in their elemental composition. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of methanol extracts of anther and anther-derived calli was conducted, which revealed the presence of a wide range of phytocompounds. Some of them are ajmalicine, vindolinine, coronaridine, squalene, pleiocarpamine, stigmasterol, etc. More importantly, about 17 compounds are exclusively present in anther-derived callus (not in anther) of Catharanthus. The ploidy status of anther-derived callus was examined via flow cytometry (FCM), and it was estimated to be 0.76 pg, showing the haploid nature of callus. The present work therefore represents an efficient way to produce high-value medicinal compounds from anther callus in a lesser period of time on a larger scale. Full article
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16 pages, 2899 KiB  
Article
Improving Flavonoid Accumulation of Bioreactor-Cultured Adventitious Roots in Oplopanax elatus Using Yeast Extract
by Mei-Yu Jin, Miao Wang, Xiao-Han Wu, Ming-Zhi Fan, Han-Xi Li, Yu-Qing Guo, Jun Jiang, Cheng-Ri Yin and Mei-Lan Lian
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2174; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112174 - 30 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1471
Abstract
Oplopanax elatus is an endangered medicinal plant, and adventitious root (AR) culture is an effective way to obtain its raw materials. Yeast extract (YE) is a lower-price elicitor and can efficiently promote metabolite synthesis. In this study, the bioreactor-cultured O. elatus ARs were [...] Read more.
Oplopanax elatus is an endangered medicinal plant, and adventitious root (AR) culture is an effective way to obtain its raw materials. Yeast extract (YE) is a lower-price elicitor and can efficiently promote metabolite synthesis. In this study, the bioreactor-cultured O. elatus ARs were treated with YE in a suspension culture system to investigate the elicitation effect of YE on flavonoid accumulation, serving for further industrial production. Among YE concentrations (25−250 mg/L), 100 mg/L YE was the most suitable for increasing the flavonoid accumulation. The ARs with various ages (35-, 40-, and 45-day-old) responded differently to YE stimulation, where the highest flavonoid accumulation was found when 35-day-old ARs were treated with 100 mg/L YE. After YE treatment, the flavonoid content increased, peaked at 4 days, and then decreased. By comparison, the flavonoid content and antioxidant activities in the YE group were obviously higher than those in the control. Subsequently, the flavonoids of ARs were extracted by flash extraction, where the optimized extraction process was: 63% ethanol, 69 s of extraction time, and a 57 mL/g liquid–material ratio. The findings provide a reference for the further industrial production of flavonoid-enriched O. elatus ARs, and the cultured ARs have potential application for the future production of products. Full article
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14 pages, 3680 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Discrimination between Adventitious Roots and Standard Medicinal Part of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Using FT-IR Spectroscopy
by So Yeon Choi, Seong Sub Ku, Myung Suk Ahn, Eun Jin So, HyeRan Kim, Sang Un Park, Moon-Soon Lee, Young Min Kang, Sung Ran Min and Suk Weon Kim
Plants 2023, 12(9), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091821 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1770
Abstract
This study aims to examine the metabolic discrimination between in vitro grown adventitious roots and the standard medicinal parts of Atractylodes macrocephala. To achieve this goal, firstly, in vitro culture conditions of adventitious roots such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations, types of [...] Read more.
This study aims to examine the metabolic discrimination between in vitro grown adventitious roots and the standard medicinal parts of Atractylodes macrocephala. To achieve this goal, firstly, in vitro culture conditions of adventitious roots such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations, types of media, inorganic salt strength of culture medium, and elicitor types and concentrations were optimized. The optimal culture conditions for proliferation of adventitious roots was found to consist of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 5 mg L−1 IBA. Whole cell extracts from adventitious roots and the standard medicinal parts of A. macrocephala were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) from FT-IR spectral data showed that adventitious roots and standard medicinal parts were clearly distinguished in the PCA and PLS-DA score plot. Furthermore, the overall metabolite pattern from adventitious roots was changed depending on the dose-dependent manner of chemicals. These results suggest that FT-IR spectroscopy can be applied as an alternative tool for the screening of higher metabolic root lines and for discriminating metabolic similarity between in vitro grown adventitious roots and the standard medicinal parts. In addition, the adventitious roots proliferation system established in this study can be directly applied as an alternative means for the commercial production of A. macrocephala. Full article
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16 pages, 12234 KiB  
Article
Production of Secondary Metabolites from Cell Cultures of Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C. Johnst. Using Balloon-Type Bubble Bioreactors
by Ji-Hye Kim, Jong-Eun Han, Hosakatte Niranjana Murthy, Ja-Young Kim, Mi-Jin Kim, Taek-Kyu Jeong and So-Young Park
Plants 2023, 12(6), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061390 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3235
Abstract
Sageretia thea is used in the preparation of herbal medicine in China and Korea; this plant is rich in various bioactive compounds, including phenolics and flavonoids. The objective of the current study was to enhance the production of phenolic compounds in plant cell [...] Read more.
Sageretia thea is used in the preparation of herbal medicine in China and Korea; this plant is rich in various bioactive compounds, including phenolics and flavonoids. The objective of the current study was to enhance the production of phenolic compounds in plant cell suspension cultures of Sageretia thea. Optimum callus was induced from cotyledon explants on MS medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D; 0.5 mg L−1), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA, 0.5 mg L−1), kinetin (KN; 0.1 mg L−1) and sucrose (30 g L−1). Browning of callus was successfully avoided by using 200 mg L−1 ascorbic acid in the callus cultures. The elicitor effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was studied in cell suspension cultures, and the addition of 200 µM MeJA was found suitable for elicitation of phenolic accumulation in the cultured cells. Phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were determined using 2,2 Diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and results showed that cell cultures possessed highest phenolic and flavonoid content as well as highest DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities. Cell suspension cultures were established using 5 L capacity balloon-type bubble bioreactors using 2 L of MS medium 30 g L−1 sucrose and 0.5 mg L−1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg L−1 NAA, and 0.1 mg L−1 KN. The optimum yield of 230.81 g of fresh biomass and 16.48 g of dry biomass was evident after four weeks of cultures. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed the cell biomass produced in bioreactors possessed higher concentrations of catechin hydrate, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and other phenolic compounds. Full article
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Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 4332 KiB  
Review
Bioreactor Systems for Plant Cell Cultivation at the Institute of Plant Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences: 50 Years of Technology Evolution from Laboratory to Industrial Implications
by Maria Titova, Elena Popova and Alexander Nosov
Plants 2024, 13(3), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030430 - 1 Feb 2024
Viewed by 3946
Abstract
The cultivation of plant cells in large-scale bioreactor systems has long been considered a promising alternative for the overexploitation of wild plants as a source of bioactive phytochemicals. This idea, however, faced multiple constraints upon realization, resulting in very few examples of technologically [...] Read more.
The cultivation of plant cells in large-scale bioreactor systems has long been considered a promising alternative for the overexploitation of wild plants as a source of bioactive phytochemicals. This idea, however, faced multiple constraints upon realization, resulting in very few examples of technologically feasible and economically effective biotechnological companies. The bioreactor cultivation of plant cells is challenging. Even well-growing and highly biosynthetically potent cell lines require a thorough optimization of cultivation parameters when upscaling the cultivation process from laboratory to industrial volumes. The optimization includes, but is not limited to, the bioreactor’s shape and design, cultivation regime (batch, fed-batch, continuous, semi-continuous), aeration, homogenization, anti-foaming measures, etc., while maintaining a high biomass and metabolite production. Based on the literature data and our experience, the cell cultures often demonstrate cell line- or species-specific responses to parameter changes, with the dissolved oxygen concentration (pO2) and shear stress caused by stirring being frequent growth-limiting factors. The mass transfer coefficient also plays a vital role in upscaling the cultivation process from smaller to larger volumes. The Experimental Biotechnological Facility at the K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology has operated since the 1970s and currently hosts a cascade of bioreactors from the laboratory (20 L) to the pilot (75 L) and a semi-industrial volume (630 L) adapted for the cultivation of plant cells. In this review, we discuss the most appealing cases of the cell cultivation process’s adaptation to bioreactor conditions featuring the cell cultures of medicinal plants Dioscorea deltoidea Wall. ex Griseb., Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers, Panax japonicus (T. Nees) C.A.Mey., Polyscias filicifolia (C. Moore ex E. Fourn.) L.H. Bailey, and P. fruticosa L. Harms. The results of cell cultivation in bioreactors of different types and designs using various cultivation regimes are covered and compared with the literature data. We also discuss the role of the critical factors affecting cell behavior in bioreactors with large volumes. Full article
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21 pages, 4034 KiB  
Review
In Vitro Cultivation and Ginsenosides Accumulation in Panax ginseng: A Review
by Fengjiao Xu, Anjali Kariyarath Valappil, Ramya Mathiyalagan, Thi Ngoc Anh Tran, Zelika Mega Ramadhania, Muhammad Awais and Deok Chun Yang
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3165; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173165 - 3 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3738
Abstract
The use of in vitro tissue culture for herbal medicines has been recognized as a valuable source of botanical secondary metabolites. The tissue culture of ginseng species is used in the production of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, polysaccharides, and especially ginsenosides, which [...] Read more.
The use of in vitro tissue culture for herbal medicines has been recognized as a valuable source of botanical secondary metabolites. The tissue culture of ginseng species is used in the production of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, polysaccharides, and especially ginsenosides, which are utilized in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. This review paper focuses on the in vitro culture of Panax ginseng and accumulation of ginsenosides. In vitro culture has been applied to study organogenesis and biomass culture, and is involved in direct organogenesis for rooting and shooting from explants and in indirect morphogenesis for somatic embryogenesis via the callus, which is a mass of disorganized cells. Biomass production was conducted with different types of tissue cultures, such as adventitious roots, cell suspension, and hairy roots, and subsequently on a large scale in a bioreactor. This review provides the cumulative knowledge of biotechnological methods to increase the ginsenoside resources of P. ginseng. In addition, ginsenosides are summarized at enhanced levels of activity and content with elicitor treatment, together with perspectives of new breeding tools which can be developed in P. ginseng in the future. Full article
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14 pages, 1686 KiB  
Review
Advances in Biotechnological Production and Metabolic Regulation of Astragalus membranaceus
by Baoyu Ji, Liangshuang Xuan, Yunxiang Zhang, Guoqi Zhang, Jie Meng, Wenrong Mu, Jingjing Liu, Kee-Yoeup Paek, So-Young Park, Juan Wang and Wenyuan Gao
Plants 2023, 12(9), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091858 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3255
Abstract
Legume medicinal plants Astragalus membranaceus are widely used in the world and have very important economic value, ecological value, medicinal value, and ornamental value. The bioengineering technology of medicinal plants is used in the protection of endangered species, the rapid propagation of important resources, [...] Read more.
Legume medicinal plants Astragalus membranaceus are widely used in the world and have very important economic value, ecological value, medicinal value, and ornamental value. The bioengineering technology of medicinal plants is used in the protection of endangered species, the rapid propagation of important resources, detoxification, and the improvement of degraded germplasm. Using bioengineering technology can effectively increase the content of secondary metabolites in A. membranaceus and improve the probability of solving the problem of medicinal plant resource shortage. In this review, we focused on biotechnological research into A. membranaceus, such as the latest advances in tissue culture, including callus, adventitious roots, hairy roots, suspension cells, etc., the metabolic regulation of chemical compounds in A. membranaceus, and the research progress on the synthetic biology of astragalosides, including the biosynthesis pathway of astragalosides, microbial transformation of astragalosides, and metabolic engineering of astragalosides. The review also looks forward to the new development trend of medicinal plant biotechnology, hoping to provide a broader development prospect for the in-depth study of medicinal plants. Full article
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22 pages, 1784 KiB  
Review
Application of Data Modeling, Instrument Engineering and Nanomaterials in Selected Medid the Scientific Recinal Plant Tissue Culture
by Baoyu Ji, Liangshuang Xuan, Yunxiang Zhang, Wenrong Mu, Kee-Yoeup Paek, So-Young Park, Juan Wang and Wenyuan Gao
Plants 2023, 12(7), 1505; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071505 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3315
Abstract
At present, most precious compounds are still obtained by plant cultivation such as ginsenosides, glycyrrhizic acid, and paclitaxel, which cannot be easily obtained by artificial synthesis. Plant tissue culture technology is the most commonly used biotechnology tool, which can be used for a [...] Read more.
At present, most precious compounds are still obtained by plant cultivation such as ginsenosides, glycyrrhizic acid, and paclitaxel, which cannot be easily obtained by artificial synthesis. Plant tissue culture technology is the most commonly used biotechnology tool, which can be used for a variety of studies such as the production of natural compounds, functional gene research, plant micropropagation, plant breeding, and crop improvement. Tissue culture material is a basic and important part of this issue. The formation of different plant tissues and natural products is affected by growth conditions and endogenous substances. The accumulation of secondary metabolites are affected by plant tissue type, culture method, and environmental stress. Multi-domain technologies are developing rapidly, and they have made outstanding contributions to the application of plant tissue culture. The modes of action have their own characteristics, covering the whole process of plant tissue from the induction, culture, and production of natural secondary metabolites. This paper reviews the induction mechanism of different plant tissues and the application of multi-domain technologies such as artificial intelligence, biosensors, bioreactors, multi-omics monitoring, and nanomaterials in plant tissue culture and the production of secondary metabolites. This will help to improve the tissue culture technology of medicinal plants and increase the availability and the yield of natural metabolites. Full article
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