Production of Secondary Metabolites

Thousands of secondary metabolites are produced by the plants. Chemically these are of different types such as latex, alkaloids, terpentines, tannins, phenolics, resins, etc.

However, these chemicals do not participate in vital metabolic function of the plant tissues. Hence these are called secondary metabolites. These metabolites provide defense mechanism in plants against pathogens, pests, viruses as well as feeding by several animals. Also these are used to ward off predators and attract pollinators.

Many of these compounds are very useful in medicines such as alkaloids. Since these compounds are produced by plants in natural ways in small amount, their production on large amount is required by using cell suspension culture technology.

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Many of the important plants have reached on the verge of extinction due to their indiscriminate use in the area of medicine. It is hoped that the use of cell suspension culture for commercial production of products will mimic the exploitation of plants.

Cell suspension culture is the most convenient method of mass cultivation of cells and large scale production of secondary compounds. Because plant cells in suspension culture show adequate growth rate for efficient product formation. The above requirement can be made using a bioreactor.

For example shikonin (and other compounds) is being produced in large scale using bioreactor. There is a wide variety of bioreactors ranging in size from 21 to 20,000 litres. The level of oxygen and carbon dioxide must be controlled by control system to optimum level.