Editors: Mohammad Anis, Mehrun Nisha Khanam

In Vitro Propagation and Secondary Metabolite Production from Medicinal Plants: Current Trends (Part 1)

eBook: US $59 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $108
Printed Copy: US $78
Library License: US $236
ISBN: 978-981-5165-23-4 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5165-22-7 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2024
DOI: 10.2174/97898151652271240101

Introduction

This book is a comprehensive review of secondary metabolite production from plant tissue culture. The editors have compiled 12 meticulously organized chapters that provide the relevant theoretical and practical frameworks in this subject using empirical research findings. The goal of the book is to explain the rationale behind in vitro production of secondary metabolites from some important medicinal plants. Biotechnological strategies like metabolic engineering and the biosynthesis, transport and modulation of important secondary metabolites are explained along with research studies on specific plants. In addition to the benefits of secondary metabolites, the book also aims to highlight the commercial value of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical and healthcare ventures.

Topics covered in this part include:

  • - Elicitation Strategies and Metabolic Engineering to boost metabolite production with case studies in metabolic engineering with examples of Scaevola Taccada and Catharanthus Roseus.
  • - Stress response investigation and the role of glandular trichomes as bio-cell factories
  • - Plant growth regulators and rapid regeneration techniques using swift plantlets regeneration and phytochemical characterization
  • - Nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, and genomic applications of in vitro cultures with an example of Hassawi rice and its genomics
  • - Sustainable approaches for saving endangered medicinal plants

The book caters to a wide readership. It primarily prepares graduate students, researchers, biotechnologists, giving them a grasp of the key methodologies in the secondary metabolite production. It is a secondary reference for support executives, industry professionals, and policymakers at corporate and government levels to understand the importance of plant tissue culture and maximizing its impact in the herbal industry.

Readership

Graduate students and researchers in plant biotechnology courses; industry professionals and policymakers in the herbal industry.

Foreword

Biotechnology will continue to be the frontline area for research and application in the 21st century. The potential of biotechnology is enormous, and numerous breakthroughs have benefited the humankind. Plant science research holds tremendous potential to address pressing global issues, including climate change, food insecurity and sustainability. Necessary research to generate innovative discoveries that solve urgent problems is at risk.

India is rich in bioresources but has been slow in converting them into economic wealth through appropriate technologies. Medicinal plants are active biochemical factories of a vast group of secondary metabolites (SMS), and these are indeed basic sources of various pharmaceutical drugs. It is believed that 80% of the world's population utilises herbs, and in developing nations, its percentage could be as high as 95%. The Ayurveda market in India has been valued at INR 335 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach INR > 1000 billion by 2025. There is a growing interest in the world over photomedicines and photo-chemicals. Quite frequently, unique genotypes have to be multiplied in a pure form. Also, several medicinal plants worldwide are under threat of extinction due to climate change. Clonal propagation is important to multiply elite planting materials of selected medicinal tees and many prized herbs.

Plant tissue culture has been viewed as a key technology for enhancing the capability for the production of large quantities of planting material of selected elite high-yielding varieties to boost production and productivity. This technology holds enormous potential for meeting the demands of both domestic and export markets in terms of high-quality planting material.

In this context, the present book titled "Invitro Propagation and Secondary Metabolite Production from Medicinal Plants: Current Trends" edited by Professor (Dr) Mohammad Anis, Former Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, is a timely one. The book will certainly appeal to postgraduate students, researchers, biotechnologists, and industry and can be used as a reference book. We must convert our biological wealth into economic wealth and job opportunities. The book will be an important step in this era.

Rajeev Varshney
Centre for Crop & Food Innovation
WA State Agricultural Biotechnology
Murdoch University
Perth, Australia