Natural products and enzymes from plant cell cultures

Abstract

Plants represent an unlimited source of natural products. Many of the recently detected phytochemicals exhibit remarkable bioactivities, ranging from anticancer activity, phosphodiesterase inhibition to cytotoxicity against HIVinfected cells. Cultivated plant cells produce at their unorganized, dedifferentiated stage secondary metabolites, but in very different amounts in so far as new compounds are concerned. In fact, more than 140 novel natural products are presently known from plant cell cultures, which also include new metabolites formed by biotransformation. The biotransformation capacity of suspended cells is described and recent high yielding transformations, like the formation of arbutin by hydroquinone-transformation with Rauwolfia cells are discussed. As an example of alkaloid production by cell suspensions, the pattern of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids of the Indian medicinal plant Rauwolfia serpentina Benth. is described and the so far 30 identified compounds are divided into eight groups which are biosynthetically closely related. Some of the key biosynthetic reactions leading to the Rauwolfia alkaloids are discussed and an overview of the enzymes involved in the formation of the alkaloid ajmaline and proteins catalyzing side reactions of the ajmaline pathway are given.

Two new disposable bioreactors for plant cell culture: The wave and undertow bioreactor and the slug bubble bioreactor

“…Plant cell cultures are often cited as a possible alternative source of secondary metabolites (Alfermann and Petersen, 1995;Fu et al, 1999;Misawa, 1994;Mulabagal and Tsay, 2004;Stafford, 2002;Stöckigt et al, 1995;Wu and Zhong, 1999;Zhong, 2001). They have also been used in several recent studies as a possible mean for the production of various recombinant proteins such as antibodies, enzymes, vaccines, and blood factors (Choi et al, 2003;Doran, 2000;Gao et al, 2004;Girard et al, 2004;Hellwig et al, 2004;McDonald et al, 2005;Soderquist andLee, 2005, Sorrentino et al, 2005; Verdelhan des Molles et al, 1999).…”

Vigna radiata as a New Source for Biotransformation of Hydroquinone to Arbutin

“…Hydroquinone was dissolved in bi-distilled water (10 mg/ml) and administered aseptically through a 0.2 μm membrane filter to obtain final concentrations (6,8,10,15, and 20 mg/100 ml). Each experiment was carried out in three replicates.…”

“…Several plant cell and tissue culture have demonstrated the capability of forming glucosyl conjugates of secondary metabolites such as phenolics, steroids, cardenolides, flavonoids, and anthraquinones. 5,6 Various plants have been selected for biotransformation of hydroquinone to arbutin. The yields of biotransformation in earlier experiments on plant cell culture were relatively low, 7,8 but the yields increased in recent years due to technology improvement, which suggests economical production of many compounds.…”

Callus induction and cell culture of castor (Ricinus communis L. CV. Shabje)

“…Acridone and furoquinoline alkaloids and coumarins have been isolated from four week old calli in Ruta species (Alfred Baumert 1992). The production of the steroidal sapogenin and diosgenin by callus cultures of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) was reported by Oncina et al in 2000. In addition, plant cell culture also offers an attractive alternative source to whole plant for the production of high-value secondary metabolites (Ravishankar et al 1999, Dornenburg and Knorr 1995, Scragg 1997, Alfermann and Petersen 1995, DiCosmo and Misawa 1995, Stockigt et al 1995, Ravishankar and Venkataraman 1990. Plant cell culture systems represent a potential renewable source of valuable medicinal, flavors, essences and colorants that cannot be produced by microbial cells or chemical syntheses.…”