Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tianmiao Huang, Di Liu, Xiuwen Cui, Meiling Li, Ling Jin, Paul W. Pare, Mengfei Li, Jianhe Wei
Summary: This study successfully cultivated seedlings of the traditional Chinese medicine Angelica sinensis by inducing embryogenic callus, suspension cell culture, bioactive metabolite determination, and plantlet acclimatization. The highest growth rate and bioactive metabolite contents were observed under the optimal treatment conditions, leading to the successful establishment of robust plants.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nazli Mert-Ozupek, Gizem Calibasi-Kocal, Nur Olgun, Yasemin Basbinar, Levent Cavas, Hulya Ellidokuz
Summary: The study compared caulerpin levels in invasive and non-invasive Caulerpa extracts for the first time, showing higher levels in the invasive species. Furthermore, caulerpin from invasive Caulerpa demonstrated anticancer activities by reducing cell viability, inhibiting invasion-migration, and inducing apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joana G. Guedes, Rogerio Ribeiro, Ines Carqueijeiro, Ana Luisa Guimaraes, Claudia Bispo, John Archer, Herlander Azevedo, Nuno A. Fonseca, Mariana Sottomayor
Summary: The mesophyll idioblasts of Catharanthus roseus are a hotspot for alkaloid accumulation and have a distinctive transcriptomic profile associated with stress responses. The transcriptome of idioblasts may hold the key to understanding the MIA pathway and increasing the levels of anticancer drugs.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Abdalrhaman M. Salih, Fahad Al-Qurainy, Salim Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Mohamed Tarroum, Hassan O. Shaikhaldein
Summary: This study synthesized silver nanoparticles and investigated their effects on phytochemical production in Juniperus procera callus. The results showed that silver nanoparticles significantly affected biomass accumulation, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and the production of bioactive compounds.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Haiyue Gong, Ping He, Xiaozhong Lan, Lingjiang Zeng, Zhihua Liao
Summary: In this review, we summarize the advances in the biosynthesis and engineering of MTA production, which holds great significance for the pharmaceutical industry.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Santoshi Acharjee, Raghawendra Kumar, Nitish Kumar
Summary: Catharanthus roseus, valued for its medicinal properties, has seen a shift from conventional to unconventional methods in the pharmaceutical industry due to low productivity. Utilizing in vitro culture techniques, stress induction has proven to be an efficient tool in enhancing alkaloid production, with genetic manipulation and omics tools aiding in the study of its biosynthesis pathways.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christian Siadjeu, Boas Pucker
Summary: Recent advancements in plant genomics have allowed for a thorough exploration of the medicinal capabilities of plants by analyzing their gene repertoire. Comparative genomics and integration of transcriptomic data can reveal genes involved in biosynthesis pathways. Data-driven discovery of specialized metabolites has the potential to expedite research in this field.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexios A. A. Alexopoulos, Epaminondas Kartsonas, Stavros Karras, Eleni Mavrommati, Spyridon A. A. Petropoulos, Maria Papafotiou
Summary: The study aimed to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol of Origanum scabrum for commercial exploitation. The researchers investigated the effect of different factors on the establishment of in vitro cultures and the production of microplants and plantlets. The results showed that the best season for explant collection was during the vegetative growth of the plants, and the shoot apex and the 1st node were the most suitable explants.
Article
Horticulture
Anuradha Talan, Abdul Mujib, Bushra Ejaz, Yashika Bansal, Yaser Hassan Dewir, Katalin Magyar-Tabori
Summary: An effective and reproducible micropropagation protocol was developed for Centratherum punctatum Cass, and the methanolic extracts of different tissues of regenerated plants were analyzed using GC-MS. The study revealed that callus had the highest number of phytochemical constituents, while the root had the fewest.
Article
Horticulture
Ieva Mezaka, Dace Kavina, Laura Kalane, Arta Kronberga
Summary: In this study, protocols for seed disinfection, in vitro multiplication and rooting, and ex vitro and field adaptation of the endangered medicinal plant Eryngium maritimum L. were developed. By optimizing the length and temperature of disinfectants, a lower contamination rate and high germination rate were achieved. Nitrogen content reduction and plant growth regulator addition enhanced axillary bud proliferation and rooting. Adjusting potting media and pot size affected survival and growth ex vitro. This research provides a suitable foundation for scaling up the production of E. maritimum through micropropagation.
Article
Immunology
Kalichamy Alagarasu, Poonam Patil, Meenakshi Kaushik, Deepika Chowdhury, Rajesh K. Joshi, Harsha V. Hegde, Mahadeo B. Kakade, Sugeerappa Laxmanappa Hoti, Sarah Cherian, Deepti Parashar
Summary: This study conducted in vitro antiviral screening of plant extracts and purified compounds for their activities against dengue and chikungunya viruses. The extracts from Plumeria alba, Ancistrocladus heyneanus, Bacopa monnieri, and Cucurbita maxima showed activity against both viruses, while the extract from Vitex negundo only showed activity against dengue virus. Among the purified compounds, anacardic acid, chloroquinone, and methyl gallate showed activity against dengue virus, and only methyl gallate had activity against chikungunya virus. These findings provide potential candidates for the development of phytopharmaceutical drugs against dengue and chikungunya.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jiajia Liu, Lijun Han, Guodong Li, Aili Zhang, Xiaoli Liu, Mingzhi Zhao
Summary: The transcriptome and metabolome analysis of V. mengtzeanum revealed that both leaves and roots are involved in alkaloid biosynthesis, contradicting previous reports that only roots are the main source of alkaloids.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiaoyan Tan, Qingxiu He, Zhaoqing Pei, Yue Liu, Zige Feng, Congying Li, Ce Tang, Yi Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to understand the differences in chemical composition between non-heat processed and raw Radix Aconiti. High-performance thin-layer chromatography and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging were used to analyze the chemical composition of processed Radix Aconiti. The study found that there were slight changes in the chemical composition of processed Radix Aconiti compared to the raw form. The combination of HPTLC and DESI-MSI could be an effective method for rapid identification of chemical components and changing rules in ethnic medicine.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mehmet Boga, Ezgi Ersoy, Esra Eroglu Ozkan, Ercan Cinar, Emel Mataraci Kara, Yeter Yesil Canturk, Gokhan Zengin
Summary: The study investigated the phytochemical profiles of Hypericum empetrifolium extracts from aerial parts and roots, revealing the presence of various compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The aerial parts extract demonstrated significant antioxidant effects and antimicrobial activity, while the roots extract showed strong inhibitory effects on cholinesterase enzymes. Further research is needed to explore additional therapeutic properties of this plant.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Denis Okello, Sungyu Yang, Richard Komakech, Yuseong Chung, Endang Rahmat, Roggers Gang, Francis Omujal, Alice V. Lamwaka, Youngmin Kang
Summary: The study developed a protocol for the indirect regeneration of Aspilia africana and successfully achieved shoot organogenesis through leaf and root explants. The results showed that efficient callus induction and shoot regeneration capacity could be obtained through specific culture medium treatments, leading to the successful cultivation of regenerated plantlets with robust growth conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sima Taheri, Saikat Gantait, Parisa Azizi, Purabi Mazumdar
Summary: This review article highlights the recent progress in improving drought tolerance in tomatoes through omics and multi-omics technologies, including genetic engineering. The discovery of drought-responsive genes and the development of biotechnological tools have provided wider opportunities for the development of drought-tolerant varieties.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Saikat Gantait
Summary: This review provides an overview of the biotechnological research advances in banana, highlighting various approaches such as in vitro regeneration, genetic transformation, mutagenesis, and nanotechnological and omics techniques. It identifies research gaps, unexplored areas, and major shortcomings in banana biotechnology, and proposes potential strategies to address these issues.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Saikat Gantait, Amit Baran Sharangi, Manisha Mahanta, Narottam Kumar Meena
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Saikat Gantait, Eashan Mukherjee, Pratim Bandyopadhyay, Somnath Bhattacharyya
Summary: The present study demonstrates that the germination efficiency of synthetic seeds of Rauvolfia serpentina can be improved by using filter paper soaked in (1/2)Murashige and Skoog liquid medium. The involvement of M-bridge resulted in the fastest germination and maximum proliferation. Storage at 8°C showed the highest germination efficiency and clonal fidelity.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Eashan Mukherjee, Saikat Gantait
Summary: Sugar beet is a commercially important crop due to its rich carbohydrate content. Conventional cultivation practices expose this crop to various stresses, but genetically transformed crops offer a potential alternative. Genetic modification methods such as Agrobacterium spp. and direct transformation methods can improve sugar beet's resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stresses, as well as enhance the production of industrially important carbohydrates. The study of genetic engineering in sugar beet since the early 1990s has explored different transformation techniques and their potential applications in improving the crop's tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Article
Agronomy
Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Saroj Laha, Suchita N. Kamble, Sudhir Singh, Somnath Bhattacharyya, Saikat Gantait
Summary: An accelerated, unique and efficient alginate-encapsulation-based mass propagation system was developed for stevia, which exhibited accelerated germination, higher shoot proliferation rate and elongation, and quicker root initiation and multiplication. Synthetic seed-regenerated plantlets showed clonal fidelity with their mother plant. This protocol is important for germplasm exchange and production of stevia.
Review
Plant Sciences
Saikat Gantait, Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Manisha Mahanta
Summary: Aloin, a derivative of anthraquinone found in Aloe vera, has various applications in the cosmeceutical industry. This review focuses on aloin chemistry, biosynthesis, cosmeceutical applications, and biotechnological approaches for aloin production. It highlights the research gaps, unexplored areas, and major obstacles in enhancing aloin production.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Manisha Mahanta, Saikat Gantait, Epsita Mukherjee, Somnath Bhattacharyya
Summary: This study reports the in vitro mass propagation of Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker f., a highly demanded cut-flower in the floriculture industry, induced by meta-Topolin (mT). The subsequent acclimatization process and cyto-genetic fidelity assessment of the plantlets were also carried out. Different cytokinins and cytokinin-like plant growth regulators were supplemented in the basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, and the growth performance of the shoot tip explants was compared. The developed protocol for large-scale production of true-to-type planting materials of gerbera is of great commercial importance.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Manisha Mahanta, Saikat Gantait, Sutanu Sarkar, Raghunath Sadhukhan, Somnath Bhattacharyya
Summary: An efficient in vitro protocol for high-frequency polyploidization in gerbera hybrid was developed in this study. The protocol involved treating two-week-old shoots with colchicine, followed by multiple shoot proliferation and rooting. The tetraploid plants obtained exhibited unique morphological characteristics and improved genetic traits, which are of great importance for the genetic improvement of gerbera.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Himanshi Swain, Saikat Gantait, Nirmal Mandal
Summary: In the search for new medications, researchers have been studying nature to discover beneficial plant species that possess medicinal qualities for curing various diseases and disorders. These medicinal plants produce different bioactive secondary metabolites, including reserpine, which has been used for centuries to treat hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, breast cancer, and human promyelocytic leukaemia. This review comprehensively discusses non-conventional or in vitro-mediated biotechnological methods for the production of reserpine from Rauvolfia spp., such as multiple shoot culture, callus culture, cell suspension culture, precursor feeding, elicitation, synthetic seed production, scale-up via bioreactor, and hairy root culture. The review also explores the potential of unexplored and cutting-edge biotechnological tools and techniques in increasing reserpine production.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Saroj Laha, Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Sandeep Kumar Verma, Suchita N. Kamble, Sudhir Singh, Somnath Bhattacharyya, Saikat Gantait
Summary: In this study, a simple and eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaf extract of in vitro banana plantlets was established. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized and then used to study their effects on the growth and rebaudioside-A content of stevia under in vitro conditions. The results showed that 400 μM AgNPs concentration in 'semi-solid followed by liquid' medium exhibited the best growth response and highest rebaudioside-A production.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Monalisha Char, Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Somnath Bhattacharyya, Saikat Gantait
Summary: This study successfully established a large-scale in vitro shoot, microtuber, and root development protocol for potato cv. Badami alu, and confirmed its genetic stability using various analytical methods.
PLANT CELL TISSUE AND ORGAN CULTURE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Saikat Gantait, Sangata Das, Manisha Mahanta, Maitreyi Banerjee
Summary: This study for the first time investigated the impact of in vitro culture age on Rauvolfia serpentina, and found that it affected the morphology, antioxidant activities, and reserpine production. The study showed that the shoot length and internode lengths were significantly different among different cultures. The antioxidant activities were reduced in the in vitro culture compared to the ex vitro plantlet, but the reserpine production increased in the in vitro culture. The study also revealed a certain level of genetic variation between the in vitro culture and the ex vitro plantlet.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Saikat Gantait, Suchita N. Kamble, Sudhir Singh, Somnath Bhattacharyya
Summary: This study found that the use of meta-Topolin (mT) in vitro can promote the mass propagation of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bert.) more effectively than other cytokinins. Adding 1.5 mg/L mT to the culture medium resulted in the highest number and length of shoots and a greater number of leaves. The acclimatized plantlets exhibited proper growth, stable ploidy level, and higher rebaudioside-A production compared to the mother plant.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tsama Subrahmanyeswari, Saikat Gantait, Suchita N. Kamble, Sudhir Singh, Somnath Bhattacharyya
Summary: This study assesses the sensitivity of stevia to gamma irradiation and determines the optimum dosage (15-20 Gy) for inducing beneficial mutations. This dosage can lead to a higher percentage of beneficial mutations and maximize the desirable genetic diversity in M1V2 and subsequent generations.
