Editor: Ilkay E. Orhan

Biotechnological Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites

eBook: US $49 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $162
Printed Copy: US $137
Library License: US $196
ISBN: 978-1-60805-410-7 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-60805-114-4 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2012
DOI: 10.2174/97816080511441120101

Introduction

Modern techniques have been developed to overcome problems associated with the extraction of natural products from plants. These techniques include production of secondary metabolites by biotechnological methods such as plant tissue culture and microbial biotransformation of natural substances. Such methods have led to an increased yield of secondary metabolite amount, the discovery of new biochemical derivatives and agricultural development. For instance, use of these techniques in agricultural area have led to some beneficial traits such as formation of new varieties of known plant species, better crop quality, higher yield, better nutritive properties, more resistant species to insects and pests. Microbial biotransformation is beneficial in plant secondary metabolite production and derivatization (chemical modification of any compound made by a microorganism) and is chiefly applicable to several varieties of terpenes and steroids. This E-book demonstrates recent developments in this field. It will be of particular interest to the professionals in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, as well as natural product chemists, medicinal chemists, plant biochemists, and molecular biologists.

Indexed in: Book Citation Index, Science Edition, BIOSIS Previews, Scopus, EBSCO, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.

Preface

Biotechnology can be considered to be originated from prehistoric times, when microorganisms were already used for processes like fermentation. In fact, the earliest use of biotechnology might have been started with lactic acid fermentation by Louis Pasteur in 1857. Then, discovery of penicillin from Penicillium sp. in 1929 by Alexander Fleming led to large scale production of this antibiotic during World War II using cultures of this microfungus, which refers to another early application of biotechnological methods. Later on, biotechnology has become a very important tool in every aspect of plant research and is now extensively applied to production of secondary metabolites from many plant species. The field of plant biotechnology has gained a lot of attraction from scientists due to its importance in pharmaceutical, agricultural, forestry, food, and some other sectors. Especially, plant cell and tissue culture techniques are important in vitro precise methods using various plant parts applicable in large-scale. Plant biotechnology is such an immense scope varying from traditional plant breeding to genetically-engineered plants, which is out of the borders of the current eBook. In this eBook, the chapters will cover biotechnological studies performed on different groups of plant secondary metabolites such as terpenes, phenolics, coumarins, anthocyanins, iridoids, and cardiac glycosides. Some of the chapters will also mention about biotransformation aspects on several bioactive compound classes.

In this regard, I would like to thank to Bentham Publishers for offering me the kind invitation to edit this valuable eBook. I would also like to extend my greatest thanks for the supports of the authors of the eBook, who contributed qualified chapters by giving their precious times into this project. I am sure that the eBook will provide an open platform to read and learn the latest knowledge on biotechnological production of plant secondary metabolites and will give new perspectives on the scope.

Prof. Dr. Ilkay Erdogan Orhan
Faculty of Pharmacy
Eastern Mediterranean University
Gazimagosa (Famagusta)
The Northern Cyprus

&

Faculty of Pharmacy
Gazi University
Ankara
Turkey

RELATED BOOKS

.Opportunities for Biotechnology Research and Entrepreneurship.
.Research Methodology and Project Management in Biotechnology.
.Recent Progress in Pharmaceutical Nanobiotechnology: A Medical Perspective.
.Recent Trends In Livestock Innovative Technologies.