Plant cell culture systems for the production of secondary metabolites : a review

Abstract

Plant cell culture systems represent a potential source of valuable secondary metabolites which can be used as food flavourants, colorants, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Environmental parameters that effect the cultivation of plants for the production of secondary metabolites include environmental factors, political and labour instabilities in the producing countries, uncontrollable variations in the crop quality, crop adulteration, and losses in post-harvest storage and handling. In most cases, the chemical synthesis of secondary metabolites is either extremely difficult or not economically feasible. The production of useful and valuable secondary metabolites from cell cultures is an attractive alternative to conventional plant cultivation techniques. Cell culture technology was developed as a possible tool to both study and produce plant secondary metabolites. The evolving importance of the secondary metabolites has resulted in a high level of interest in the possibility of altering their production through improving cultivation technology.This review summarizes conventional and alternative plant cell culture techniques for the production of secondary metabolites.