Abstract.
Cytotoxic lignans derived from podophyllotoxin are currently used in cancer chemotherapy. Podophyllotoxin for semi-synthetic derivatization is isolated from the rhizomes of Podophyllum plants growing wild, some of which are counted as endangered species. An alternative source for podophyllotoxin or related lignans may in future be cell cultures derived from different plant species, such as Podophyllum spp or Linum spp. These cell cultures were shown to accumulate considerable amounts of podophyllotoxin or 5-methoxypodophyllotoxin. Optimization of the cell cultivation regime might lead to a renewable source of cytotoxic lignans for medicinal uses. This Mini-Review summarizes the attempts to establish plant cell cultures for the production of podophyllotoxin and related lignans and their optimization towards high levels of these target compounds. It also summarizes the results of studies on the biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin and 5-methoxypodophyllotoxin.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received revision: 1 September 2000
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petersen, M., Alfermann, W.A. The production of cytotoxic lignans by plant cell cultures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 55, 135–142 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530000510
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530000510