Production Of Plant Secondary Metabolites Research Articles

Exploring low-dose gamma radiation effects on monoterpene biosynthesis in Thymus vulgaris: insights into plant defense mechanisms.

Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as thyme, is a plant renowned for producing monoterpenes. This study aimed to understand the effects of low-dose gamma radiation, specifically in the range of 1-5Gy, on various traits of Thymus vulgaris, providing context on its importance in agricultural and medicinal applications. The research explored morpho-physiological, biochemical, and gene-expression responses in thyme plants under no gamma- and gamma-ray exposure conditions. The study revealed complex relationships between gamma-ray doses and plant characteristics. In particular, shoot and root lengths initially increased with low doses (1-3Gy) but decreased at higher doses (5Gy), suggesting a dose-dependent threshold effect. Similarly, shoot and root fresh weights displayed an initial increase followed by a decline with increasing doses. Biochemical parameters showed dose-dependent responses, with low to moderate doses (1-3Gy) stimulating enzyme activities and high doses (5Gy) inhibiting them. Gene expression analysis was focused on the following specific genes: thymol synthase, γ-terpinene synthase, and carvacrol synthase. Low to moderate doses increased the expression of these genes, resulting in increased production of bioactive compounds. However, higher doses had diminished effects or suppressed gene expression. Metabolite analysis demonstrated dose-dependent responses, with moderate doses enhancing secondary metabolite production, while higher doses provided limited benefits. These findings underscore the implications of using gamma radiation to enhance secondary metabolite production in plants and its potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. The study emphasizes the potential of gamma radiation as an external stressor to influence plant responses and highlights the importance of understanding such effects in various fields.

Effects of leaf herbivory and autumn seasonality on plant secondary metabolites: A meta-analysis.

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are produced by plants to overcome environmental challenges, both biotic and abiotic. We were interested in characterizing how autumn seasonality in temperate and subtropical climates affects overall PSM production in comparison to herbivory. Herbivory is commonly measured between spring to summer when plants have high resource availability and prioritize growth and reproduction. However, autumn seasonality also challenges plants as they cope with limited resources and prepare survival for winter. This suggests a potential gap in our understanding of how herbivory affects PSM production in autumn compared to spring/summer. Using meta-analysis, we recorded overall production of 22 different PSM subgroups from 58 published papers to calculate effect sizes from herbivory studies (absence to presence) and temperate to subtropical seasonal studies (summer to autumn), while considering other variables (e.g., plant type, increase in time since herbivory, temperature, and precipitation). We also compared production of five phenolic PSM subgroups - hydroxybenzoic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, hydrolysable tannins, and condensed tannins. We wanted to detect a shared response across all PSMs and found that herbivory increased overall PSM production in herbaceous plants. Herbivory was also found to have a positive effect on individual PSM subgroups, such as flavonol production, while autumn seasonality was found to have a positive effect on flavan-3-ol and condensed tannin production. We discuss how these responses might stem from plants producing some PSMs constitutively, whereas others are induced only after herbivory, and how plants produce metabolites with higher costs only during seasons when other resources for growth and reproduction are less available, while other phenolic PSM subgroups serve more than one function for plants and such functions can be season dependent. The outcome of our meta-analysis is that autumn seasonality changes some PSM production differently from herbivory, and we see value in further investigating seasonality-herbivory interactions with plant chemical defense.

Biochar and vermicompost modulated Pb toxicity in summer savory (Satureja Hortensis L.) plants through inducing physiological and biochemical changes

The primary environmental factor affecting the biochemical attributes of plants is soil pollution by heavy metals. The detrimental effects of heavy metals on plants can be lessened by soil amendments. The goal of the current research was to determine the potential of biochar (BC) and vermicompost (VC) as soil amendments in reducing Pb toxicity in summer savory (Satureja HortensisL.) though physiological and biochemical modifications. Therefore, the pot experiment was conducted with Pb toxicity (control (non-Pb), 300, and 600 mg kg soil-1) and soil amendments (control, 2% BC, 10% VC, and 1% BC+5% VC) based on a completely randomized design. The results showed that Pb toxicity at 600 mg kg soil-1 led to significant decreases in shoot weight (41%), root weight (25%), leaf relative water content (20%), and chlorophyll content (39%) compared to the control. However, it resulted in increases in malondialdehyde (61%) and electrolyte leakage (49%) when BC and VC were not applied. The results showed that Pb toxicity at 600 mg kg soil-1 led to decreases in shoot weight (41%), root weight (25%), leaf relative water content (20%), and chlorophyll content (39%), but increases in malondialdehyde (61%), and electrolyte leakage (49%) compared to the control in the treatments without BC and VC application. However, BC and VC, particularly their combination were more effective in improving plant growth. The interaction of Pb at 300 mg kg-1 and combined BC and VC resulted in higher total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, essential oil (EO) content, and EO yield with 29, 62, and 39, and 35% raises compared with the control. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering revealed that Pb at 300 and 600 mg kg soil-1 differed from the control, and that combined VC and BC significantly varied from their individual values. Combining BC and VC is more effective than using them separately in alleviating Pb toxicity, as it enhances plant growth and secondary metabolite production. The results have the potential to benefit the improvement of summer savory resistance in Pb-polluted soils.

Endophytic fungi from Himalayan silver birch as potential source of plant growth enhancement and secondary metabolite production.

Mountain biodiversity is under unparalleled pressure due to climate change, necessitating in-depth research on high-altitude plant's microbial associations which are crucial for plant survival under stress conditions. Realizing that high-altitude tree line species of Himalaya are completely unexplored with respect to the microbial association, the present study aimed to elucidate plant growth promoting and secondary metabolite producing potential of culturable endophytic fungi of Himalayan silver birch (Betula utilis D. Don). ITS region sequencing revealed that the fungal isolates belong to Penicillium species, Pezicula radicicola, and Paraconiothyrium archidendri. These endophytes were psychrotolerant in nature with the potential to produce extracellular lytic activities. The endophytes showed plant growth promoting (PGP) traits like phosphorus solubilization and production of siderophore, indole acetic acid (IAA), and ACC deaminase. The fungal extracts also exhibited antagonistic potential against bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, the fungal extracts were found to be a potential source of bioactive compounds including the host-specific compound-betulin. Inoculation with fungal suspension improved seed germination and biomass of soybean and maize crops under net house conditions. In vitro PGP traits of the endophytes, supported by net house experiments, indicated that fungal association may support the growth and survival of the host in extreme cold conditions.

Secondary Metabolite Production In Plants: In Response To Biotic And Abiotic Stress Factors

Secondary metabolites (SMs) play vital roles in plant defence mechanisms, adaptation to environmental conditions, and interactions with other organisms. Biotic and abiotic stress factors can significantly influence the production, accumulation, and composition of SMs in plants. Understanding the intricate relationship between stress and SM production is crucial for enhancing plant resilience, agricultural productivity, and the development of novel phytopharmaceuticals. This research provides current knowledge regarding the impact of biotic and also abiotic stress on SMs in plants. Biotic stress factors such as pathogen infection, and herbivore attacks, as well as abiotic stress factors like drought, along with temperature extremes, and also salinity, can profoundly influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of SMs in plants. We discussed the methodology based on secondary sources underlying physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms involved in stress-induced SM synthesis and highlight the potential implications for plant biology, agriculture, and human health. The study also emphasizes the functions of SMs in plants including defence against herbivores, pathogens, and abiotic stresses. The mechanism by which thesecompounds act as allelochemicals and signalling molecules is also discussed.

Enhanced azadirachtin production in neem (Azadirachta indica) callus through NaCl elicitation: Insights into differential protein regulation via shotgun proteomics

With their remarkable bioactivity and evolving commercial importance, plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) have gained significant research interest in recent years. Plant tissue culture serves as a credible tool to examine how abiotic stresses modulate the production of PSMs, enabling clear insights into plant stress responses and the prospects for controlled synthesis of bioactive compounds. Azadirachta indica, or neem has been recognized as a repository of secondary metabolites for centuries, particularly for the compound named azadirachtin, due to its bio-pesticidal and high antioxidant properties. Introducing salt stress as an elicitor makes it possible to enhance the synthesis of secondary metabolites, specifically azadirachtin. Thus, in this research, in vitro callus cultures of neem were micro-propagated and induced with salinity stress to explore their effects on the production of azadirachtin and identify potential proteins associated with salinity stress through comparative shotgun proteomics (LCMS/MS). To induce salinity stress, 2-month-old calli were subjected to various concentrations of NaCl (0.05–1.5%) for 4 weeks. The results showed that the callus cultures were able to adapt and survive in the salinity treatments, but displayed a reduction in fresh weight as the NaCl concentration increased. Notably, azadirachtin production was significantly enhanced in the salinity treatment compared to control, where 1.5% NaCl-treated calli produced the highest azadirachtin amount (10.847 ± 0.037 mg/g DW). The proteomics analysis showed that key proteins related to primary metabolism, such as defence, energy, cell structure, redox, transcriptional and photosynthesis, were predominantly differentially regulated (36 upregulated and 93 downregulated). While a few proteins were identified as being regulated in secondary metabolism, they were not directly involved in the synthesis of azadirachtin. In conjunction with azadirachtin elicitation, salinity stress treatment could therefore be successfully applied in commercial settings for the controlled synthesis of azadirachtin and other plant-based compounds. Further complementary omics approaches can be employed to enhance molecular-level modifications, to facilitate large-scale production of bioactive compounds in the future.

Antioxidant and Secondary Metabolite Responses in Wheat under Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus L.) Infestation

AbstractWheat is one of the most important cereal crops grown in the Western Himalayas of India but its production is challenged by the insect “cereal leaf beetle (CLB)”. This study explores the impact of domestication and modern crop improvement on wheat's defense mechanisms against the CLB, a global threat to wheat cultivation. Sixteen diverse wheat genotypes having different ploidy levels were investigated, including wild wheat, landraces, mutants, advanced breeding lines, commercial varieties, and a Rye grass genotype. Genotypes with resistance genes, landraces, and wild wheat exhibited the lowest CLB infestation and oxidative damage. These genotypes displayed enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, such as peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased plant secondary metabolite (phenol and tannin) production upon CLB infestation. Resistant durum wheat demonstrated moderate responses and exhibited higher levels of flavonoid production. On the other hand, susceptible durum wheat genotypes, commercial variety Shalimar Wheat‐02 (SW‐2), showed high CLB infestation, ROS production, reduced antioxidant enzyme and secondary metabolite production. This may be because modern varieties like SW‐2 were not selected for insect resistance. These findings emphasize the significance of preserving genetic diversity from wild wheat and landraces to bolster wheat breeding programs against pests such as CLB. This study underscores the need to harness ancestral wheat lines to enhance insect pest resistance in modern wheat cultivars.

Improvement of Oleanolic Acid Production in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Based on OptKnock Framework.

Biosynthesis of plant-derived natural products in the eukaryotic microbe Saccharomyces cerevisiae often faces the issue of the inefficient production due to the poor compatibility between the heterologous genes and chassis cells. In order to improve the biosynthetic efficiency of heterologous production of plant secondary metabolites in S. cerevisiae, people usually do metabolic engineering in and around the heterologous metabolic pathways based on researchers' experience and mass of trials, which usually consumes a lot of manpower and financial resources. Herein, to further improve the heterologous production of oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid in many plants with several promising pharmacological activities, in a genetically engineered, OA-producing strain S. cerevisiae OA07 effectively, a genome-scale metabolic model of the strain was developed, with the named as Yeast-OA07, and then OptKnock, a flux balance analysis-based pathway design algorithm with bilevel objectives, was utilized to develop in silico gene-knockout strategies to guide the molecular operations in S. cerevisiae OA07. Yeast8-OA07 contained 1133 genes, 2702 metabolites, and 3997 reactions. Five in silico gene-knockout strategies, which were expected to increase OA productivities, were obtained based on the metabolic flux analysis of Yeast8-OA07 through OptKnock. Afterwards, five mutant strains, named as LK1, LK2, LK3, LK4 and LK5, were constructed according to the in silico strategies. It was found that the mutant strain LK2, in which 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl dihydropteridine diphosphokinase-encoding gene FOL1 and formate dehydrogenase-encoding gene FDH1 were deleted, had an OA yield of 125.04 mg·L-1, which was significantlyhigher than the original strain OA07 (89.50 mg·L-1), while the mutant strain LK5, which eliminated paminobenzoic acid synthase-encoding gene ABZ1 and glycine hydroxymethyl transferase-encoding gene SHM1, had an even higher OA yield of 207.37 mg·L-1. Nevertheless, strain LK6, which was developed by integrating the in silico gene-knockout strategies of LK2 and LK5, had a significant decrease of OA production than S. cerevisiae OA07, indicating that in silico knockout strategies do not fit to in vivo iteration directly. Our study provides a novel, efficient method to improve the heterologous production of plant metabolites in microbial cell factories.

Modulation of morpho-physiological attributes and in situ analysis of secondary metabolites using Raman spectroscopy in response to red and blue light exposure in Artemisia annua

Differential light conditions, such as variations in photoperiod, light quality, and light intensity, play a crucial role as external factors that can influence plant morphogenesis and secondary metabolism. However, there is still a lack of understanding of how Artemisia annua responds to monochromatic and dichromatic light regimes in terms of the different physiological mechanisms that control plant growth and secondary metabolite production. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate and assess the various physiological parameters, biochemical analysis, and molecular aspects in detail. Therefore, the plantlets were exposed to LED lighting such as monochromatic red light (R), monochromatic blue light (B), white light (W), and a combination of red and blue light (RB, 1:1) at a PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) of 200 mol. m−2. s−1 for 10 days. Our results indicate that exposure to RB light resulted in an immense increase in ROS accumulation, flavonoids, lignin, and artemisinin by 4.7-fold, 44%, and 53.4%, respectively, in contrast to W light. Whereas blue light led to increments of 160.2% in phenolic and 107.9% in anthocyanin content. RB and B light also influence the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as leaf area, stomatal density, trichome size, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the production of more secondary metabolites to combat oxidative stress. Real-time PCR analysis of biosynthetic pathway-associated genes HMGR, DXR, DXS, FPS, ADS, CYP71AVI, DBR2, ALDH1, and flavonoid key biosynthesis pathway genes PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, and F3′H showed the highest increment under RB, light followed by B and R light exposure. Further, RB LED light has significant potential for enhancing natural bio-active compounds as revealed by Raman spectroscopy, such as camphor, limonene, terpene-4-ol, α pinene, 1,8-cineole, β-caryophyllene, artemisinin, kaempferol, luteolin, rutin, and caffeic acid in A. annua. Taken together, red and blue LEDs can serve as significant elicitors for the production of commercially important metabolites.

Investigating how nitrogen nutrition and pruning impacts on CBD and THC concentration and plant biomass of Cannabis sativa

Precise crop fertilization requires an in-depth understanding of plant uptake and utilisation to optimise sustainable production. This study investigated the influence of nitrogen (N) nutrition and pruning on the cannabinoid concentrations and biomass of a commercial cannabis cultivar; the rationale for this study is how N supply and pruning affect cannabinoid yields and concentration in a commercial setting. Clones of a Cannabis sativa L. (CBD-type) were grown in a controlled-environment glasshouse in pots with coarse sand. After five weeks of vegetative growth under 210 mg/L N and an 18 h light regime, rates of 30, 60, 210, and 500 mg/L N were applied to plants for twelve weeks and a light regime set at 12 h. Double stem pruning was applied as an additional treatment to investigate efficacy on biomass increase. Biomass, N concentrations, and cannabinoid concentrations were measured after the final harvest. Pruning treatment did not increase cannabinoid concentrations or affect biomass. It was coincidentally found that plants on the glasshouse edge with higher exposure to sunlight developed more biomass and higher cannabinoid concentrations. Only biomass in leaves was increased significantly via higher nitrogen nutrition. Cannabinoid concentration, as well as cannabinoid yield per plant were decreased with the increase in N supply. High rates of fertilizer are not recommended because of reduced cannabinoid concentration and biomass yield: the ideal N supply is likely to be between 60 and 210 mg/L. This research will benefit growers and advisors in understanding the complexity of effects of nitrogen fertiliser and pruning practices on plant biomass and secondary metabolite production in medicinal cannabis.

Evaluation of the artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L. grown in different Agro ecological zones of Cameroon

Artemisinin and its derivatives are potent antimalarials that have become essential components of Artemisinin Based Combination Therapies (ACTs) for malaria treatment. Production of artemisinin is less compared to its world demand and access to ACTs is still limited in worst hit countries. Secondary metabolite production in plants depends on a number of factors including agro ecology. This work sought to evaluate the growth characteristics and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua grown in four agro ecological zones of Cameroon. Experimental fields comprising of A annua were set up in the different agro-ecological zones, for growth and artemisinin assessments. Artemisinin detection and quantification was compared in leaves/flowers and stems of Artemisia annua from these agro-ecological zones, using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Soil provenance and other agro ecological factors significantly affected the growth parameters of A. annua as there were significant differences (p<0.05) in plant height, leaf area, number of branches, stem girth and number of leaves across the different study areas. There was significant variation (P<0.05) in the content of artemisinin from the plant in the different agro ecological zones. The mean levels of artemisinin in the samples was 0.34-0.80% in stem samples, and 0.18-0.61% for leaves/flowers. The highest artemisinin yield in leaf/flowers samples (0.61%) was recorded in samples from Bamenda, while that of stem samples (0.80%) was recorded in samples from Ngaoundere. The study confirms the effect of agro ecological factors on artemisinin content of A. annua in Cameroon and reveal that A. annua grown in most regions of the country contain commercially viable levels of artemisinin which can further be exploited for pharmaceutical purposes.

Unveiling the maize-benefit: Synergistic impacts of organic-inorganic fertilizer cooperation on rhizosphere microorganisms and metabolites

Maize, an indispensable staple crop, plays a vital role in ensuring human food security. To shed light on the effects of different fertilizer management modes on maize growth, as well as rhizosphere bacterial populations and metabolites, we employed high-throughput sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics technology. Experimental treatments comprised: CK (no fertilizer), CF (single chemical fertilizer, N-P2O5-K2O), OF30 (30 % organic fertilizer replacement), OF70 (70 % organic fertilizer replacement), and OF100 (100 % organic fertilizer, animal manure and humic acid as raw materials). Compared to the single chemical fertilizer, the dual fertilizer management resulted in a more stable bacterial network and a more complex metabolic system. Notably, under OF70 conditions, the rhizosphere soil exhibited greater prevalence of functional bacteria like Paenibacillus and Pseudoxanthomonas. This stimulation significantly activated biosynthesis processes like unsaturated fatty acids, plant hormone synthesis, and plant secondary metabolite production. Through correlation mining of differential metabolites and differential bacteria, as well as weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we revealed a consistent correlation trend between bacterial population abundance and changes in metabolite content under dual fertilization. The dual fertilizer approach established a more intricate regulatory relationship between plants, bacteria and metabolites, indicative of a more stable rhizosphere environment. Importantly, our findings on the superior growth performance of maize under OF70 conditions, coupled with microecological changes in the rhizosphere (bacteria and metabolites), provide valuable insights for advancing efficient maize cultivation and informing scientifically sound fertilizer management practices. Moreover, these results hold relevance for production considerations in other agricultural crops. However, it is crucial to further explore the generalizability of these findings in field conditions.

Systematic engineering pinpoints a versatile strategy for the expression of functional cytochrome P450 enzymes in Escherichia coli cell factories

Production of plant secondary metabolites in engineered microorganisms provides a scalable and sustainable alternative to their sourcing from nature or through chemical synthesis. However, the biosynthesis of many valuable plant-derived products relies on cytochromes P450 – enzymes notoriously difficult to express in microbes. To improve their expression in Escherichia coli, an arsenal of engineering strategies was developed, often paired with an extensive screening of enzyme variants. Here, attempting to identify a broadly applicable strategy, we systematically evaluated six common cytochrome P450 N-terminal modifications and their effect on in vivo activity of enzymes from the CYP79 and CYP83 families. We found that transmembrane domain truncation was the only modification with a significantly positive effect for all seven tested enzymes, increasing their product titres by 2- to 170-fold. Furthermore, when comparing the changes in the protein titre and product generation, we show that higher protein expression does not directly translate to higher in vivo activity, thus making the protein titre an unreliable screening target in the context of cell factories. We propose the transmembrane domain truncation as a first-line approach that enables the expression of wide range of highly active P450 enzymes in E. coli and circumvents the time-consuming screening process. Our results challenge the notion that the engineering strategy must be tailored for each individual cytochrome P450 enzyme and have the potential to simplify and accelerate the future design of E. coli cell factories.

The role of sound stimulation in production of plant secondary metabolites

Sound vibration is one of natural stimuli trigging physiological changes in plants. Recent studies showed that sound waves stimulated production of a variety of plant secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, in order to enhance seed germination, flowering, growth or defense. In this review, we examine the potential role of sound stimulation on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and the followed cascade of physiological changes in plants, from the perspective of transcriptional regulation and epigenetic regulation for the first time. A systematic summary showed that a wide range of factors may regulate the production of secondary metabolites, including plant species, growth stage, sound types, sound frequency, sound intensity level and exposure time, etc. Biochemical and physiological changes due to sound stimulation were thoroughly summarized as well, for secondary metabolites can also act as a free radical scavenger, or a hormone signaling molecule. We also discussed the limits of previous studies, and the future application of sound waves in biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites.

Optimization of culture condition for growth and production of bioactive secondary metabolites by endophytic fungus Thermothelomyces thermophiles XJF-9

Endophytic fungi living in intracellular without any negative symptoms of their host and synthase natural bioactive products considered as an elicitor for plant secondary metabolites production. The structural diverse and complex of the natural compounds synthesis by endophytic fungi make them an important rich source of secondary metabolites with novel and unique structures that can help in the treatment of various human diseases. The review focused secondary metabolites with their structure and chemical diversity from the plant-associated endophytic fungi. Moreover, reported to exhibit diverse pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and inhibitory activities. This review discus a total 130 novel bioactive natural compounds isolated from the different species of fungal endophytes reported from 2020 to 2022.

Artificial Light Spectra and Its Impact on Plant Physiological Processes and Secondary Metabolism

Understanding the effects of artificial light spectra on plant physiological processes and secondary metabolism is critical for optimizing plant growth and productivity, particularly in controlled environment agriculture. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on this topic, exploring the fundamental principles of light spectra, their impacts on plant physiology, including photosynthesis and growth, as well as on secondary metabolism. Artificial light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have been shown to significantly influence these plant processes, owing to their controllable spectra and intensities. These artificial light spectra can enhance photosynthetic efficiency, manipulate growth and development, and stimulate the production of valuable secondary metabolites. The review further discusses the potential applications of this understanding in sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and even space agriculture. However, the interactions of artificial light spectra with other environmental factors, the development of custom light recipes for specific plant species or cultivars, and the need for long-term studies are identified as areas needing further research. This review contributes to the growing body of literature exploring the opportunities and challenges of utilizing artificial light spectra for improving plant performance and secondary metabolite production.

Cytochrome P450 Gene Families: Role in Plant Secondary Metabolites Production and Plant Defense.

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are the most prominent family of enzymes involved in NADPH- and O2-dependent hydroxylation processes throughout all spheres of life. CYPs are crucial for the detoxification of xenobiotics in plants, insects, and other organisms. In addition to performing this function, CYPs serve as flexible catalysts and are essential for producing secondary metabolites, antioxidants, and phytohormones in higher plants. Numerous biotic and abiotic stresses frequently affect the growth and development of plants. They cause a dramatic decrease in crop yield and a deterioration in crop quality. Plants protect themselves against these stresses through different mechanisms, which are accomplished by the active participation of CYPs in several biosynthetic and detoxifying pathways. There are immense potentialities for using CYPs as a candidate for developing agricultural crop species resistant to biotic and abiotic stressors. This review provides an overview of the plant CYP families and their functions to plant secondary metabolite production and defense against different biotic and abiotic stresses.

A tripartite microbial co-culture system for de novo biosynthesis of diverse plant phenylpropanoids

Plant-derived phenylpropanoids, in particular phenylpropenes, have diverse industrial applications ranging from flavors and fragrances to polymers and pharmaceuticals. Heterologous biosynthesis of these products has the potential to address low, seasonally dependent yields hindering ease of widespread manufacturing. However, previous efforts have been hindered by the inherent pathway promiscuity and the microbial toxicity of key pathway intermediates. Here, in this study, we establish the propensity of a tripartite microbial co-culture to overcome these limitations and demonstrate to our knowledge the first reported de novo phenylpropene production from simple sugar starting materials. After initially designing the system to accumulate eugenol, the platform modularity and downstream enzyme promiscuity was leveraged to quickly create avenues for hydroxychavicol and chavicol production. The consortia was found to be compatible with Engineered Living Material production platforms that allow for reusable, cold-chain-independent distributed manufacturing. This work lays the foundation for further deployment of modular microbial approaches to produce plant secondary metabolites.

Enhancing secondary metabolite production in plants: Exploring traditional and modern strategies

The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SMs) in plants occurs in various forms and amounts, and their use in modern medicine is widespread. Half of the human necessities are derived from plant-based commodities, including fuel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, building materials, and food essentials. Many medicinal plant species are utilized for their therapeutic properties and their SMs content, but the amount of naturally occurring SMs in plants are limited. Therefore, various conventional and novel strategies are employed to enhance the production of bioactive components from plants. Traditional methods are cost-effective, easy, and faster, but produce fewer metabolites, while modern techniques such as metabolic pathways engineering, genome editing, metabolic transformation, biotechnology-based substitutions, and synthetic biology are more expensive but offer valuable tools for augmenting SMs content. Optimizing culture media and signalling pathways involved in SMs production presents an exciting opportunity to increase the quantity of bioactive compounds naturally present. This review summarizes the different cultivation methods used to enhance the class and quantity of metabolites produced and highlights the benefits of strategies for boosting SMs and synthesizing metabolites using various techniques.

Secondary metabolites of rhizospheric fungal isolate Aspergillus carneus ABRF4 regulate the antibacterial and anti-proliferative activity against cancer cells

Abstract. Sahu MK, Yeeravalli R, Das A, Jha H. 2023. Secondary metabolites of rhizospheric fungal isolate Aspergillus carneus ABRF4 regulate the antibacterial and anti-proliferative activity against cancer cells. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 137-142. The medicinal capabilities of plants are influenced by soil chemistry, genotype, and climate. Many biotic and abiotic factors affect soil composition. Microorganisms constituting the soil microflora indicate a mutualistic relationship with plant rhizospheric region, and they play an important role in plant secondary metabolite production, yield, and efficacy. They are the major resources for structurally unique bioactive natural metabolites. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioactivity of the secondary metabolite extracted from the rhizospheric fungal isolate Aspergillus carneus ABRF4) isolated from the Achanakmar Biosphere Reserve, Chhattisgarh, India. The fungal secondary metabolites were extracted using several solvents by soxhlet extraction techniques. The crude and partially purified column fractions of A. carneus ABRF4 were characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectrum, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Results showed that the acetonitrile fraction had an antimicrobial activity with the variable zone of inhibition against human pathogens such as Bacillus circulans (MTCC-7906), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC-96), and Ralstonia eutropha (MTCC-2487). The crude extracts and the identified secondary metabolite, trans- 1,3-dimethyl-Cyclohexane, possess different anti-proliferative activity against human tissue-specific cancer cell lines, including breast cancer (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MCF-7), liver cancer (HepG2), lung cancer (A-549), and prostate cancer (DU-145) suggesting a potential therapeutic application of the isolated rhizospheric fungi.