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Potential and Prospects of Shikonin Production Enhancement in Medicinal Plants

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Plants are a rich source of valuable chemicals that are used as herbal and modern medicines. Shikonin, a naphthoquinone red pigment, produced from roots of Arnebia hispidissima, A. euchroma, Lithospermum erythrorhizon and other Boraginaceous species was the first phytochemical to be produced on commercial scale using biotechnological approach. Plant cell culture technologies were the only tools employed for secondary metabolites production in other cases in past. Shikonin production and localization is tissue specific with stringent metabolic regulation. Hence, the differentiated cultures such as those of hairy root cultures offer a great promise for secondary metabolite production. A. rhizogenes-mediated transformed roots are characterized by high growth rate, genetic stability and growth in hormone free media. These genetically transformed root cultures can produce larger amounts of secondary metabolites. The present review deliberates upon potential and prospects of diverse physico-chemical factors that affect shikonin production in tissue culture, as well as, the genetic modification for enhancement of shikonin production.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

BAP:

6-Benzylaminopurine

B5 :

Gamborg’s medium

CaMV35S :

Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid

DA:

Davydenkov arnebia medium

DOPA:

L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

GUS:

β-Glucuronidase

HMGR:

Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase

HPLC:

High pressure liquid chromatography

HPT:

Hygromycin phosphotransferase

IAA:

Indole acetic acid

LS:

Linsmaier and Skoog’s medium

MeJa:

Methyl jasmonate

MS:

Murashige and Skoog’s medium

NAA:

α-Naphthalene acetic acid

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

PFP:

P-fluorophenylalanine

PVP:

Polyvynilpirrolidone

RC:

Root culture medium

TDZ:

Thidiazuron

TLC:

Thin layer chromatography

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Acknowledgements

The infrastructural facility provided during writing of this manuscript by Director, Centre for Plant Biotechnology, HSCST, is duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Haryana State Council for Science and Technology, CCSHAU New Campus, Hisar, 125001, India

    Minakshi Pal, Deepika Gulati & R. C. Yadav

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, 173101, India

    Vinod Kumar

  3. Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, 125001, India

    Rakesh Yadav

Authors
  1. Minakshi Pal
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  2. Vinod Kumar
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  3. Rakesh Yadav
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  4. Deepika Gulati
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  5. R. C. Yadav
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Correspondence to Minakshi Pal.

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Significance statement ‘Shikonin, a naphthoquinone red pigment, produced from roots of A. hispidissima and other Boraginaceous species was first phytochemical produced on commercial scale. This review describes enhanced shikonin production strategies from medicinal plants’.

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Pal, M., Kumar, V., Yadav, R. et al. Potential and Prospects of Shikonin Production Enhancement in Medicinal Plants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 89, 775–784 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-017-0931-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-017-0931-3

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