식물 유래 항암제와 생산 개선을 위한 식물 합성생물학 연구 동향

Abstract

Background: Plants are rich in phytochemicals, and their bioactive compounds have been employed in traditional medicine since ancient times. A variety of medicinal plant species and phytochemicals have been used to treat a wide range of chronic diseases, most notably, cancer.BRMethods and Results: As the global prevalence of cancer increases, numerous investigations are being carried out to develop phytochemical-based medicines. For example, paclitaxel, camptothecin, vinca alkaloids, and podophyllotoxin are US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anticancer drugs derived from plants. However, plants contain only trace amounts of phytochemicals, which makes it difficult to supply them continuously. Moreover, their complicated structures hinder their ability to produce large quantities of chemicals for commercial use. Recently, researchers have developed a number of biotechnological platforms to enhance the production of phytochmicals.BRConclusions: In this review, we summarize the current status of four FDA-approved anticancer drugs derived from plants and provide plant biotechnology strategies, including synthetic biology, to facilitate their production.