Cotransformed hairy roots containing a gene that encodes a fungal elicitor protein, β-cryptogein, were established in Withania somnifera, a medicinal plant widely used in Indian systems of medicine. To find out whether β-cryptogein protein endogenously elicits the pathway of withasteroid biosynthesis, withaferin A and withanolide A contents along with transcript accumulation of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), and sterol glycosyltransferase (SGT) were analyzed in both cryptogein-cotransformed and normal hairy roots of W. somnifera. It was observed that the withaferin A and withanolide A contents were drastically higher in normal hairy roots than cryptogein-cotransformed ones. Similar trends were also observed on the levels of transcript accumulation. Subsequently, the enzyme activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), one of the key enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway, was measured in both cryptogein-cotransformed and normal hairy roots of W. somnifera along with the levels of PAL transcript accumulation. Upliftment of PAL activity was observed in cryptogein-cotransformed hairy roots as compared to the normal ones, and the PAL expression also reflected a similar trend, i.e., enhanced expression in the cryptogein-cotransformed lines. Upliftment of wall-bound ferulic acid accumulation was also observed in the cryptogein-cotransformed lines, as compared to normal hairy root lines. Thus, the outcome of the above studies suggests a metabolic shift from withanolide accumulation to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in cryptogein-cotransformed hairy roots of W. somnifera.

The main objective of this study was to identify prospects, advantages and challenges of plant molecular farming. Plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) and plant made vaccines (PMVs) were intended to be used for human consumption. A broad range of plants, including crops, vegetables and fruits have been investigated for their applicability in production of pharmaceuticals over the last two decades. At present, mainly maize, rice, tobacco and safflower are used in open field production. Contained bioreactor-type systems focus on moss, algae and plant organ culture. Expression systems include stable transformation of plant genomes-both nuclear and plastid, which are also used in the generation of genetically modified crops, plant-viruses and transient expressions. Each expression system (production platform) offers different advantages and disadvantages. Production platform choice is perceptive and depends on a broad range of criterion. This study is based on literature reviews, document analysis and internet database browsing.

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