Plant cell and organ cultures as a source of phytochemicals

Abstract

Plant cell and organ cultures constitute a promising platform for the production of numerous valuable secondary compounds. Currently, in vitro culture techniques involve both empirical and rational approaches as suitable strategies to condition high metabolite production and establish competitive plant cell-based bioprocesses. In this context, we have developed hairy root cultures of Panax ginseng, and engineered hairy root cultures of Duboisia, Datura metel and Hyoscyamus spp and plant cell cultures of Centella asiatica and Taxus spp. This chapter describes our work on the development of two different biotechnological systems to improve taxol production in cell suspension cultures of Taxus spp and ginsenoside production in hairy root cultures of Panax ginseng.