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Bioprospecting of Fungal Endophytes in Hulimavu Lake for Their Repertoire of Bioactive Compounds
Fungal endophytes hold a prominent position in the research world, in part due to the rich repertoire of bioactive compounds useful for industrial and environmental applications. The present study aims at bioprospecting few endophytic fungi isolated from Hulimavu lake flora (Bengaluru) for characterization of biological applications of their bioactive compounds. Among the lake plants screened, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Ricinus communis and Persicaria glabra were taken forward for isolation of fungal endophytes. Subsequent biochemical analyses were performed to quantify few fungal enzymes and bioactive compounds, followed by antimicrobial and cytotoxic assays. In conclusion, this pilot study aims to probe the plethora of bioactive compounds present in fungal endophytes that possess wide ranging biological properties. Due to the species richness and diversity of fungal endophytes across different host plants and habitats, bioprospecting fungal endophytes remains a very extensive yet promising topic for research, representing broad ranging environmental and industrial applications. The Electrochemical Society -
Bioreactor configurations for adventitious root culture: recent advances toward the commercial production of specialized metabolites
In vitro plant cell and organ cultures are appealing alternatives to traditional methods of producing valuable specialized metabolites for use as: pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, perfumes, and agricultural chemicals. Cell cultures have been adopted for the production of specialized metabolites in certain plants. However, in certain other systems, adventitious roots are superior to cell suspension cultures as they are organized structures that accumulate high levels of specialized metabolites. The cultivation of adventitious roots has been investigated in various bioreactor systems, including: mechanically agitated, pneumatically agitated, and modified bioreactors. The main relevance and importance of this work are to develop a long-lasting industrial biotechnological technology as well as to improve the synthesis of these metabolites from the plant in vitro systems. These challenges are exacerbated by: the peculiarities of plant cell metabolism, the complexity of specialized metabolite pathways, the proper selection of bioreactor systems, and bioprocess optimization. This reviews major objective is to analyze several bioreactor types for the development of adventitious roots, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type of bioreactor, and to describe the strategies used to increase the synthesis of specialized metabolites. This review also emphasizes current advancements in the field, and successful instances of scaled-up cultures and the generation of specialized metabolites for commercial purposes are also covered. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Bioreactor systems for micropropagation of plants: present scenario and future prospects
Plant micropropagation has been adapted in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and other related fields for large-scale production of elite plants. The use of liquid media and adoption of bioreactors have escalated the production of healthy plants. Several liquid-phase, gas-phase, temporary immersion, and other modified bioreactors have been used for plant propagation. The design, principle, operational mode, merits, and demerits of various bioreactors used for the regeneration of propagules, such as bulblets, cormlets, rhizomes, microtubers, shoots (subsequent rooting), and somatic embryos, are discussed here. In addition, various parameters that affect plant regeneration are discussed with suitable examples. Copyright 2023 Murthy, Joseph, Paek and Park. -
Bioremediation and Detoxification of Asbestos from Soil
Asbestos is referred to as magic mineral and used as excellent building material. It finds its application in wide range of products such as floor tiles, pipes, paper, rope, cloth, insulated partition board, etc. On average, India uses 3, 50, 000 tons of asbestos annually and asbestos fibers readily undergo weathering releasing them into soil, water and air. Occupational and environmental exposure to this asbestos is leading to asbestosis (asbestos-related disease), lung cancer, and heart failure. Considering the serious health risk, countries like Australia, Brazil, and Canada had banned the use of asbestos. As asbestos is extensively used in construction of buildings, the demolished materials are dumped in the soil and thus it finds its route in soil as pollutant. Soil borne microbes like bacteria, fungi and lichens are found to be best means to reduce the toxicity of asbestos. These microorganisms remove iron from asbestos and reduce its toxicity. Another most effective bioremediation approach is phytoremediation to clean up the soil wherein vegetative cover on contaminated soil can remove iron and breaks down asbestos as source of inorganic nutrient. The main advantage of phytoremediation is that it can be extended to any geographical area where plants can grow. This chapter emphasizes various means of use and disposal of asbestos, followed by various means of bioremediation using microbes and plants and as an alternate for the sustainable soil condition. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, corrected publication 2022. -
Bioremediation of Antibiotics as a Pollutant in Soil
The discovery of antibiotics had been a major breakthrough in the field of medicine. Apart from its use in treating disease, it is been used extensively in agricul-tural fields and animal husbandry to improve livestock and crop yield. Improper and overuse of antibiotics have found a route in the food chain and has accumulated in environmental resources like water and soil. This is of serious concern as it leads to the development of drug-resistant microorganisms which is a global threat and also alters the microbial diversity as they are bacteriostatic and bactericidal. Bioaugmen-tation and Biostimulation approaches are effective in the degradation of antibiotics in soil. For enhanced degradation of antibiotics consortia, engineered microbes and enzyme-mediated methods are feasible methods for effective remediation of antibi-otics in soil. Currently, extensive research on the bioremediation of antibiotics is carried out as they are cost-effective and eco-friendly. The present chapter deals with various contamination sources of antibiotics in soil, adverse effects of antibiotics in soil, different bioremediation approaches, and mechanisms, and regulations in the use of antibiotics. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. -
Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites Using Phytogenic Nanoparticles
Heavy metals (HMs) accumulate in milieu due to various human activities that persist leading to biomagnification in food chains and cause unpleasant effects on human health and environment. Pollutants such as organic matter and HMs are reme-diated traditionally by chemical precipitation, electrochemical treatment, adsorption, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, coagulation, and photo-catalyzation, remained inef-fective. Use of nanomaterials conjugated with various compounds showed significant reduction in several contaminated sites. However, existing implication of nanotech-nology works with nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis majorly involved the use of chem-ical raw materials and physical methods which are relatively toxic and unstable. Aforesaid difficulties made researchers and entrepreneurs to reconnoitre effective, newer, and novel synthesis approaches for the replacement over older version. During the past decade, to overcome these issues plant-derived NPs are extensively used because of its less cost, efficiency, and eco-friendly in nature. Hence, advanced alternative technology like phytoremediation using nanomaterials with innovative techniques has been a boon for HM remediation. Efficiency of green synthesized NPs is based on redox reactions which makes metals stable facilitated by flavonoids and polyphenols responding to HM-stress. Several metal complexation processes are known to produce phytochelatins or other metal-chelating peptides helping the biore-mediation of HMs. Current chapter throws light on adaptive mechanism employed by NPs coupled with plant or microbial extracts in overcoming the HM stress. Further-more, here we also focus on the possible mechanism and interaction between NPs and HM in minimizing severity of polluted sites with many examples. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022. -
Biosynthesis of CuFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposite: Ultrasensitive detection and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Due to the dearth of extremely capable, sensitive, and stable catalysts, the efficient detection and catalytic removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in industrial wastewater remains a serious challenge. The detection and determination of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) presence in the environment is a matter of paramount importance because it is a high-priority hazardous pollutant that can affect people, animals, and plants. Here, we present a promising and economically viable green synthetic route for fabricating CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposites from the leaf extract of Senna didymobotrya. The UVVis, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDXA, BET and VSM analysis were performed to characterize the synthesis of CuFe2O4@Ag nanocomposite. To evaluate the electrocatalytic capacity of CuFe2O4@Ag, electrochemical sensing stratergy was performed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The modified CuFe2O4@Ag glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (CuFe2O4@Ag/GCE) demonstrated a linear response in the range of 0.01-15 ?g/ml (71 nm-107 ?M) and the ability to detect 4-NP at low concentration (0.006 ?g/ml (43 nM)). Due to the increased surface area of CuFe2O4@Ag/GCE by ? 1.5-fold, a greater cathodic current response (-16 ?A/cm2) at a low potential of -0.81 V was observed compared to CuFe2O4/GCE alone for the detection of 4-NP. Additonally, CuFe2O4@Ag showed excellent reduction ability towards 4-NP using NaBH4 with an efficiency of 96.4 % which was higher than the CuFe2O4 (only 87.3 %) in 12 min due to the synergistic relationship among Ag NPs and CuFe2O4 nanostructures. The outcomes from this study shows that the bi-functional electrocatalyst holds vast potential for environmental remediation. 2024 The Author(s) -
Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles mediated by Strobilanthes hamiltoniana: Characterizations, and its biological applications
Nanoparticles of Zinc oxide (ZnONPs), has a variety of applications such as antibacterial property, water treatment for pollutant removal, and as catalysts for organic reactions etc. and have been synthesized utilizing a variety of approaches, including green synthesis, chemical precipitation, solgel, hydrothermal synthesis, and microwave-assisted synthesis. In the present work, easy and economically viable ZnONPs were synthesized utilizing Strobilanthes hamiltoniana (SH) leaf extracts. Phytochemicals form S. hamiltoniana act as agents for reducing and capping the metal oxide ions. A range of analytical and microscopic techniques have been used to investigate the physical and chemical properties of ZnONPs. At 360 ?nm, green synthesized SH-ZnONPs showed robust UVVis absorption. The nanosize, shape, and crystalline structure of SH-ZnO NPs were characterized using XRD and electron microscopy techniques. Using SH-ZnO NPs, the photocatalytic activity of textile dyes such as Reactive blue 220 (RB-220), Reactive blue 222A (RB-222A), Reactive yellow 145 (RY-145) and Reactive yellow 86 (RY-86) dyes showed degradation efficiency of 97.3%, 78.57%, 88.88%, and 83.33% after 320 ?min. ZnONPs exhibited remarkable antibacterial effectiveness against bacterial and fungal pathogens using the Minimum inhibitory concentration approach. Their MIC values were calculated, and free radical scavenging experiments showed antioxidant activity. The SH-ZnONPs were validated using HepG2 (IC50) cancerous cells lines and showed promising anti-cancer activity. These results revealed that SH-ZnO NPs had promising benefits that could be utilized as a viable therapeutic candidate. 2023 The Author(s) -
Biosynthesis of ZnFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposites for degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide
This work demonstrates recent advancements in the phytosynthetic and environmentally friendly method of preparing ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposites using Pedalium murex L leaf extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized with UVvis, FTIR, TGA/DSC, XRD, FE-SEM, and EDX to investigate the electronic as well as morphological properties. Moreover, the photocatalytic behaviour of ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposites was evaluated with a breakdown of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DPA) by exposing to UVVis light. The results obtained suggest that ZnFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposite exhibited photocatalytic activity for the degradation of 2,4-DPA by approximately 94% in 60 min compared to ZnFe2O4. The hybrid nanostructure of ZnFe2O4@Ag significantly promoted charge transfer and prevented electron and hole recombination resulting in the enhancement of photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, ZnFe2O4@Ag nanocomposite showed the fair recyclable capacity for up to five catalytic cycles with an acceptable degradation percentage of 2,4-DPA. The findings of this study identify efficient charge transfer factor as a major contributor to the catalytic activity, with promising possibilities for the design of environmental remediation nanocomposite for harmful contaminants. 2023 The Author(s) -
Biosynthesized AG nanoparticles: A promising pathway for bandgap tailoring
The unrivaled features and prospective applications promote graphene as a potent contender for next-generation nanodevices. But the realization of a tunable bandgap structure for zero-bandgap graphene at all times persists as a dilemma. In this work, a green approach is adopted for the bandgap modulation of graphene oxide (GO). The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were introduced into the graphene matrix, and hence the bandgap was tailored for the formation of a semiconductor composite. The bare GO that has got a bandgap of 3.41 eV was tuned to 2.33 eV on the addition of AgNPs. The preparation of AgNPs using fruit extract of cyanococcus make the process greener, safer, and cost-effective. This paper intends to open a new venture towards the environment safe synthesis of semiconductor nanocomposite necessitate for optoelectronic and photovoltaic technologies. 2020 by the authors. -
Biotechnological advancements in microplastics degradation in drinking water: Current insights and Future perspectives
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as persistent toxicants in the recent decade. MPs are reported to present in different samples such as soil, water, wastewater, and human samples including placenta, urine etc. Recent studies have reported its presence in drinking water. MPs presence in the drinking water is of concern to the research because MPs are associated with several toxicities in animal models including human. The presented review is focused on understanding MPs abundance, sources, detection, analysis, and biotechnological approaches for its degradation. The paper discusses MPs sources, distribution, and transport in drinking water. In addition, it discusses the MPs identification in drinking water, and advances in biotechnological, metagenomics, system, and synthetic biology approaches for MPs degradation. Moreover, it discusses critically the major challenges associated with the MPs degradation in drinking water. Heterogeneity in the MPs size and shape makes it its identification difficult in the drinking water. Most of the methods available for MPs analysis are based on the dried samples analysis. Development of MPs in liquid samples may bring a breakthrough in the research. 2024 The Authors -
Biotechnological Approaches for Production of Artemisinin, an Anti-Malarial Drug from Artemisia annua L.
Artemisinin is an anti-malarial sesquiterpene lactone derived from Artemisia annua L. (Aster-aceae family). One of the most widely used modes of treatment for malaria is an artemisinin-based combination therapy. Artemisinin and its associated compounds have a variety of pharmacological qualities that have helped achieve economic prominence in recent years. So far, research on the biosynthesis of this bioactive metabolite has revealed that it is produced in glandular trichomes and that the genes responsible for its production must be overexpressed in order to meet demand. Using biotechnological applications such as tissue culture, genetic engineering, and bioreactor-based approaches would aid in the upregulation of artemisinin yield, which is needed for the future. The current review focuses on the tissue culture aspects of propagation of A. annua and production of artemisinin from A. annua L. cell and organ cultures. The review also focuses on elicitation strategies in cell and organ cultures, as well as artemisinin biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic genes in Artemisia and plant model systems. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
Biotechnological Approaches For the IN - VITRO Production of L-DOPA From Callus Suspension Cultures of Mucuna Pruriens (L.) DC.
Plants are an important source of drugs to treat wide array of disorders due to the newlineproduction of various classes of secondary metabolites which are used as active ingredients to treat and cure diseases. One such commercially important metabolite known as 3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is used to treat various central nervous system disorders like Dementia, Parkinson s, Alzheimer s, etc. Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. belonging to Fabaceae family has been used since time immemorial to treat Parkinson s disease and the seeds are the main source of all herbal formulations to treat various disorders of nervous system and male newlinereproductive system. Though the metabolite is present in all parts of Mucuna, seeds possess newlinethe highest concentration and it has become a huge challenge to satisfy the emerging demand newlinefor L-DOPA. This is attributed to the conventional methods of extraction from the natural sources of Mucuna sps., which has a low germination rate, less viable seeds and an irritating, itching trichomes on the pods. The need for an alternative method with continuous supply of L-DOPA without affecting the natural biodiversity has been achieved through in-vitro procedures. But there hasn t been a systematic approach to optimize the cultural conditions for the optimal productivity. Hence in our study, we aimed at selecting an elite germplasm of Mucuna pruriens and growing them in-vitro, along with establishing a callus suspension newlineculture and optimizing the cultural conditions for high biomass and L-DOPA production. Callus was induced by supplementing various plant growth regulators like auxins (IAA, IBA, Picloram, NAA, 2,4-D), cytokinins (Kinetin, BAP, 2-iP and TDZ) and their combinations in different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/L). -
Biotechnological approaches for the production of camptothecin
Abstract: Camptothecin (CPT), an indole alkaloid popular for its anticancer property, is considered the third most promising drug after taxol and famous alkaloids from Vinca for the treatment of cancer in humans. Camptothecin was first identified in Camptotheca acuminata followed by several other plant species and endophytic fungi. Increased harvesting driven by rising global demand is depleting the availability of elite plant genotypes, such as Camptotheca acuminata and Nothapodytes nimmoniana, crucial for producing alkaloids used in treating diseases like cancer. Conservation of these genotypes for the future is imperative. Therefore, research on different plant tissue culture techniques such as cell suspension culture, hairy roots, adventitious root culture, elicitation strategies, and endophytic fungi has been adopted for the production of CPT to meet the increasing demand without affecting the source plants existence. Currently, another strategy to increase camptothecin yield by genetic manipulation is underway. The present review discusses the plants and endophytes that are employed for camptothecin production and throws light on the plant tissue culture techniques for the regeneration of plants, callus culture, and selection of cell lines for the highest camptothecin production. The review further explains the simple, accurate, and cost-effective extraction and quantification methods. There is enormous potential for the sustainable production of CPT which could be met by culturing of suitable endophytes or plant cell or organ culture in a bioreactor scale production. Also, different gene editing tools provide opportunities for engineering the biosynthetic pathway of CPT, and the overall CPT production can be improved. Key points: Camptothecin is a naturally occurring alkaloid with potent anticancer properties, primarily known for its ability to inhibit DNA topoisomerase I. Plants and endophytes offer a potential approach for camptothecin production. Biotechnology approaches like plant tissue culture techniques enhanced camptothecin production. The Author(s) 2024. -
Biotechnological approaches for the production of gymnemic acid from Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.
Abstract : Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects several organs and can be treated using phytochemicals found in medicinal plants. Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) is one such medicinal plant rich in anti-diabetic properties. The plant is commonly known as madhunashini in Sanskrit because of its ability to cure diabetes (sugar). Gymnemic acid(GA) is a phytochemical (a triterpenoid saponin) responsible for the herbs main pharmacological activity. This secondary metabolite has a lot of potential as a phytochemical with pharmacological properties including nephroprotection, hypoglycemia, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Gymnema has acquired a lot of popularity in recent years due to its low side effects and high efficacy in healing diabetes, which has led to overexploitation by pharmaceutical enterprises for its biomass in the wild for the purification of gymnemic acid. Modern biotechnological techniques involving the establishment of cell and organ cultures from G. sylvestre will assist us in fulfilling the need for gymnemic acid production. The present review provides insights on the establishment of cell and organ cultures for the production of a potent antidiabetic molecule gymnemic acid. Further, the review also delves into the intricacies of the different strategies for improved production of gymnemic acid using various elicitors. There is huge potential for sustainable production of gymnemic acid which could be met by establishment of bioreactor scale production. Understanding and engineering the biosynthetic pathway could also lead to improved GA production. Key points: Gymnemic acid is one of the potential anti-diabetic molecules from madhunashini Cell and organ culture offers potential approach for gymnemic acid production Elicitation strategies have improved the gymnemic acid production Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
Biotechnological approaches for the production of hypericin and other important metabolites from the genus Hypericum
Hypericin, a polycyclic naphthodianthrone and active plant pigment with the molecular formula C30H16O8, is a crucial phytochemical extracted from the dark-colored glands present on the aerial parts of the genus Hypericum. It is biosynthesized through the polyketide pathway by plant-specific type III polyketide synthases (PKSs). In addition to hypericin, the genus Hypericum is rich in various classes of phytochemicals. Alongside other bioactive compounds like hyperforin and flavonoids, hypericin exhibits antidepressant activity. Recently, hypericin has gained increased importance in the research due to its unique properties. Its photodynamic nature makes it an effective natural photosensitizer, extending its use in investigating skin disorders. Moreover, hypericin demonstrates antiviral and antitumoral properties. Despite its effectiveness in treating cancers and neurological disorders, hypericin production faces challenges due to its site-specific nature. Conventional methods struggle to meet the growing demand for hypericin. Biotechnological approaches, including plant tissue culture and bioreactor-based large-scale production, offer promising solutions to address this demand. This review focuses on various plant tissue culture techniques, such as cell and organ culture, and elucidates their biosynthetic pathways. It also discusses hypericin production using elicitation strategies involving biotic and abiotic components, as well as genetic engineering approaches to enhance hypericin yields. Bioreactor-scale production presents significant potential for sustainable hypericin production. Further advancements in understanding and engineering biosynthetic pathways hold promise for unlocking new avenues in hypericin production. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Biotechnological Research Progress in Jatropha, a Biodiesel-Yielding Plant
Environmental pollution is one of the most pressing challenges in todays world. The main cause of this pollution is fuel emissions from automobiles and other sources. As industrialization progresses, we will be unable to compromise on the use of energy to power heavy machines and will be forced to seek out the best options. As a consequence, utilizing green fuel, such as biodiesel derived from natural sources, is a realistic option. Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is recognized as the greatest feedstock for biodiesel production throughout the world, and it has gained a huge market value in the recent years. Conventional cultivation alone will not be sufficient to meet the global need for the plants biomass for the production of biodiesel. Adoption of plant tissue culture techniques that improve the biomass availability is an immediate need. The present review provides detailed information regarding in-vitro plant propagation (direct and indirect organogenesis), somatic embryogenesis, and acclimatization protocols of plantlets for stabilized production of biomass. The review also focuses on biotechnological approaches such as gene transformation studies, production of haploids, and double haploids for developing elite germplasm for high biomass and improved traits for the production of biodiesel. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
Biotic elicitation mediated in vitro production of L-DOPA from Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. cell cultures
With the emerging rise in the need for drugs extracted from various plant sources, there also arises the need for the optimum production of the drugs on a larger scale and conservation of those medicinal plants using different in vitro techniques and biotechnological approaches. Plant tissue culture techniques play a prominent role in mass multiplication of the plant. Whereas, strategies such as precursor feeding, elicitation, increases the metabolite content several-fold. Thus, an attempt of using the biotic elicitors for enhancing L-DOPA production, the anti-Parkinsons drug from Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. cell cultures, has been reported in the present study. Aqueous extracts of algae [Amphiroa anceps (AA), Gracillaria ferogusonii (GF), Kappaphycus striatum (KS), and Sargassum lanceolatum (SL)], fungus [Aspergillus sps. (AS), Penicillium sps. (PE), and Cordyceps sps (CO)], and polysaccharide [Chitosan (CH)] solution were exposed to the cell cultures for 3, 6, and 9 d, respectively, and their effect on biomass and L-DOPA production was noted. This is the first report demonstrating the enhancement of biomass and L-DOPA from M. pruriens cell cultures with the use of various algal and fungal elicitors. Based on productivity (L-DOPA concentration biomass volume), it was observed that Cordyceps showed the best result and enhanced both biomass and metabolite to a greater scale. The elicitors, which showed a significant increase, are as follows: CO > AS > PE > CH > AA > KS > GF > SL. On the whole, it was noted that fungal extracts showed better results than algae. 2022, The Society for In Vitro Biology. -
Biotic elicitors influence boeravinone B production from cell suspension cultures of Boerhavia diffusa Linn.
Boerhavia diffusa L., (punarnava) is known for its rich, secondary metabolite content and potential pharmacological properties. Boeravinone B, a flavonoid, is a significant plant secondary metabolite found in punarnava, exhibiting various pharmacological properties that translate into anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and nephroprotective activities. However, the limited production of boeravinone B within the plant poses challenges in meeting market demands. In this study, various biotic components, including filtrates and supernatants of algae, fungi, and bacteria, are employed as elicitors to enhance the production of boeravinone B from the cell suspension cultures of punarnava. Fungal components like yeast extract, Aspergillus niger and Cordyceps militaris, bacteria like Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, as well as Algae such as Valonia utricularis and Spirulina platensis, are utilised to assess their efficiency as elicitors at different day intervals. Results indicate that among all the elicitor treatments, fungal components like yeast extract, C. militaris and A. niger at 100 mg/L, 1 % and 5 % concentrations, administered 6, 6 and 2, days before harvesting, exhibit increased production of boeravinone B by 1.13, 1.14 and 2.63 folds, respectively, when compared to control cultures. Similarly, algae V. utricularis and S. platensis, at 2.5 % concentration and treated before harvesting on Day 6, demonstrate enhanced production of boeravinone B by 1.74 and 4.40 folds compared to control cultures. In addition, the efficiency of various biotic elicitors is examined by quantifying total phenolics and flavonoids in treated cell suspension cultures. These findings have the potential to enhance production strategies and meet the growing demand for this valuable compound with medicinal properties, leveraging easily accessible biotic elicitors. 2024 SAAB -
Biotic elicitors: a boon for the in-vitro production of plant secondary metabolites
Plant secondary metabolites are produced naturally in the plant system as a defense mechanism to combat environmental stress factors. These metabolites are extensively used in food, cosmetics, agrochemicals and pharmaceutical sectors. With the applications of plant tissue culture, any particular organ which is the major site for secondary metabolite production can be targeted and cultured. Recently, a new strategy to increase the metabolite production in plants has been employed with the use of elicitors. These elicitors are the chemical substances that trigger the biosynthetic pathways by activating certain transcriptional factors and upregulating the genes. Hence the secondary metabolite production increases in the plant system due to the stress developed by the introduction of the elicitors. Generally, elicitors may be abiotically derived from non-living sources or biotically derived from the living sources. In the present review, the mechanism of biotic elicitation and the applications of biotic elicitors like bacterial, fungal, algal elicitors and other polysaccharides extracted from them has been discussed extensively. It has been noted that the addition of bacterial elicitors like Rhizobiumrhizogenes showed a 94% increase in genistein production while Escherichia coli showed a 9.1-fold increase in diosgenin production. Similarly, fungal elicitors like Aspergillus niger increased thiophene production by 85% and a 26-fold increase in sanguinarine production was seen when the cultures were treated with Botrytis sps. Algal extracts like Haematococcus pluvialis increased the betalain production by 2.28 folds while Botryococcus braunii elicited Vanillin, Vanillylamine and Capsaicin by 3-fold, 6-fold and 2.3-fold respectively. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.