Functions Of Plant Secondary Metabolites And Their Exploitation In Biotechnology

"The book is designed for use by advanced students, researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, medicine, pharmacy and agriculture working in the academic and industrial sectors, including the pesticide and pharmaceutical industries."--Jacket.

This important volume commences with an overview of the modes of action of defensive secondary metabolites, followed by detailed surveys of chemical defense in marine ecosystems, the biochemistry of induced defense, plant-microbe interactions and medical applications. A chapter is also included covering biotechnological aspects of producing valuable secondary metabolites in plant cell and organ cultures. This is a comprehensive and fully updated new edition, edited by Professor Michael Wink and including contributions from many internationally acknowledged experts in the field.

This important volume commences with an overview of the modes of action of defensive secondary metabolites, followed by detailed surveys of chemical defense in marine ecosystems, the biochemistry of induced defense, plant-microbe interactions and medical applications. A chapter is also included covering biotechnological aspects of producing valuable secondary metabolites in plant cell and organ cultures. This is a comprehensive and fully updated new edition, edited by Professor Michael Wink and including contributions from many internationally acknowledged experts in the field.

Various plant metabolites are useful for human life, and the induction and reduction of these metabolites using modern biotechnical technique is of enormous potential important especially in the fields of agriculture and health. Plant Metabolism and Biotechnology describes the biosynthetic pathways of plant metabolites, their function in plants, and some applications for biotechnology. Topics covered include: biosynthesis and metabolism of starch and sugars lipid biosynthesis symbiotic nitrogen fixation sulfur metabolism nucleotide metabolism purine alkaloid metabolism nicotine biosynthesis terpenoid biosynthesis benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis monoterpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis flavonoid biosynthesis pigment biosynthesis: anthocyanins, betacyanins and carotenoids metabolomics in biotechnology Plant Metabolism and Biotechnology is an essential guide to this important field for researchers and students of biochemistry, plant biology, metabolic engineering, biotechnology, food science, agriculture, and medicine.

The secondary metabolites of plants were once considered to be waste products - today, their true value is understood. New methods of separation and structural elucidation, and advances in the investigation of biochemical activities, have increased our understanding of secondary metabolites. Their function as a defense mechanisms offers a great potential for technological gain. Secondary metabolites can be utilized in agriculture to breed stronger crops and in the manufacture of biorational pesticides. They can also be exploited by medicine as theraputic agents. And these are just two of the likely uses. This landmark volume presents articles by an impressive team of experts from leading laboratories. Each chapter considers a current understanding of secondary metabolites in nature and the potential exploitation of those qualities by the biotechnology industry.

Secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of an organism. The secondary metabolites are produced majorly by plants and are called phytochemicals, also by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, algae and so on. These secondary metabolites plays a major role in defensive mechanism in plants, as well as its components are used in food industry, pharmaceuticals and so on. The applications and sources of each secondary metabolite is clearly discussed. We are very much thankful for the publisher who readily accepts and publish this subject. Also the author is very much thankful to her research team Mridul Umesh, Thazeem Basheer, Poorna Chandrika Sabapathy, Sabarinathan Devaraj and Sathishkumar Swamiappan for contributing their help and support for this work. The next edition of this book will more precisely discuss on the extraction and purification of the secondary metabolites.

Thousands of secondary metabolites are produced by plants to withstand unfavourable environmental conditions and are important molecules for nutraceutical, agro, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, etc. Harvesting of plants for the extraction of these important metabolites can threaten the plant germplasm, and various medicinally important plants are at the verge of extinction. Based on need, various methods and strategies were developed and followed by researchers from time to time to save the plant germplasm and produce important secondary metabolites efficiently to meet their growing demands. Biotechnological Approaches to Enhance Plant Secondary Metabolites: Recent Trends and Future Prospects provides a comprehensive introduction and review of state-of-the-art biotechnological tools in this field of research at global level. The methodologies are highlighted by real data examples in both in vitro and in vivo level studies. The book: • Highlights and provides overviews of the synthesis, classification, biological function and medicinal applications of the recent advancements for the enhanced production of novel secondary metabolites in plants • Provides an overview of the role of induced mutation, salinity stress and brassinosteroids impact to increase the secondary metabolic contents in plants and suggests an increase in enzymatic activity in plants could be due to various point mutations, which in turn could play a role at transcriptome levels • Discusses the significant role of endophytes to enhance the contents of plant secondary metabolites • Alternatively, suggests the urgent need to set up the standard operating procedures using hydroponics system of cultivation for significant enhancement of secondary metabolite contents • Enlists various in vitro techniques to enhance plant secondary metabolites contents using plant tissue culture approaches • Provides a systematic overview of state-of-the-art biotechnological tools CRISPER Cas9 and RNAi to enhance the plant secondary metabolite contents • Recommends CRISPER Cas9 technology over RNAi, ZFNs and TALENs because of its relatively simple and high precision method with an easily programmable tool This serves as a reference book for the researchers working in the field of plant secondary metabolites and pharmaceutical industries at global level.

This book consists of an introductory overview of secondary metabolites, which are classified into four main sections: microbial secondary metabolites, plant secondary metabolites, secondary metabolites through tissue culture technique, and regulation of secondary metabolite production. This book provides a comprehensive account on the secondary metabolites of microorganisms, plants, and the production of secondary metabolites through biotechnological approach like the plant tissue culture method. The regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolite production in plants and the pharmaceutical and other applications of various secondary metabolites are also highlighted. This book is considered as necessary reading for microbiologists, biotechnologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and botanists who are doing research in secondary metabolites. It should also be useful to MSc students, MPhil and PhD scholars, scientists, and faculty members of various science disciplines.

Biocontrol and Secondary Metabolites: Applications and Immunization for Plant Growth and Protection covers established and updated research on emerging trends in plant defense signaling in, and during, stress phases. Other topics cover growth at interface as a sustainable way of life and the context of human welfare and conservation of fungi as a group of organisms. Further, the book explores induced systemic resistance using biocontrol agents and/or secondary metabolites as a milestone for sustainable agricultural production, thus providing opportunities for the minimization or elimination of the use of fungicides. Presents an overview on mechanisms by which plants protect themselves against herbivory and pathogenic microbes Identifies the use of immunization as a popular and effective alternative to chemical pesticides Explores how these fungi help crop plants in better uptake of soil nutrients, increase soil fertility, produce growth promoting substances, and secrete metabolites that act as bio-pesticides