Abstract
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an ancient aquatic plant used throughout Asia for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), mostly within the aporphine and bisbenzylisoquinoline structural categories, are among the main bioactive constituents in the plant. The alkaloids of sacred lotus exhibit promising anti-cancer, anti-arrhythmic, anti-HIV, and anti-malarial properties. Despite their pharmacological significance, BIA metabolism in this non-model plant has not been extensively investigated. In this review, we examine the diversity of BIAs in sacred lotus, with an emphasis on the distinctive stereochemistry of alkaloids found in this species. Additionally, we discuss our current understanding of the biosynthetic genes and enzymes involved in the formation of 1-benzylisoquinoline, aporphine, and bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in the plant. We conclude that a comprehensive functional characterization of alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes using both in vitro and in vivo methods is required to advance our limited knowledge of BIA metabolism in the sacred lotus.
Highlights
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) is a basal eudicot aquatic plant
Many Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) isolated from N. nucifera have been detected in the R-enantiomer conformation, which contrasts with predominantly S-enantiomer conformers found in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and related plants, no studies have yet examined this feature of BIA metabolism in sacred lotus
Neither reticuline nor corytuberine have been isolated from sacred lotus; other 1-benzylisoquinoline intermediates are likely involved in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis
Summary
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) is a basal eudicot aquatic plant. Many BIAs isolated from N. nucifera have been detected in the R-enantiomer conformation, which contrasts with predominantly S-enantiomer conformers found in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and related plants (order Ranunculales), no studies have yet examined this feature of BIA metabolism in sacred lotus. Such topics are of significance to advance research in the field of plant alkaloid metabolism, in non-model species, and to develop better strategies to bioengineer high-value phytopharmaceuticals in various production systems. We review the current knowledge of BIAs biosynthesis in sacred lotus
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