Ecdysteroids: production in plant in vitro cultures

Abstract

Ecdysteroids are secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the animal and plant kingdoms. They have a wide range of pharmacological effects in vertebrates, including mammals, most of which are beneficial for humans. Therefore, they have become compounds of interest for the pharmaceutical industry due to their adaptogenic, anabolic, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolaemic and antimicrobial activities, which are still being researched. Nowadays, ecdysteroids are present as active ingredients in bodybuilding supplements. Because of their complex structures, their chemical synthesis seems unprofitable and impractical. Due to high content of ecdysteroids in many plants, they are primarily obtained by extraction of the plant material. Plant in vitro cultures provide an alternative source of these compounds, helping to avoid problems associated with field production—such as variable yield or dependence on environmental factors, as well as limited availability of natural resources. Plant cell and tissue cultures may be suggested as alternatives for the production of plant biomass rich in pharmaceutically active ecdysteroids. Moreover, the use of common biotechnological strategies, such as elicitation or precursor feeding, may further increase the yield and improve production of these compounds. In this paper, we describe general information about ecdysteroids: their structure, biosynthesis, distribution, role in plants, and we review recent studies on micropropagation of ecdysteroid-producing plants and cell cultures, and potential ability of ecdysteroids enhancement in in vitro cultures.

Evaluation of Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Properties of Four Fern Species for Potential Cosmetic Applications

“…The isolation of some phytoecdysteroids in certain ferns has been the focus for certain medicinal applications [52]. For example, phytoecdysteroids have already been isolated in Polypodium vulgare [53].…”

Various in vitro systems of Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi L.): a new potential source of phytoecdysteroids?

“…Roots from in vitro cultures are therefore an alternative source of biomass that is difficult to obtain from a natural source due to delicate nature and fragility of roots, coexistence with other plant species, and mutual intertwining of roots and rhizomes, which is especially dense at wet meadows. There are numerous literature positions on the ecdysteroids production in in vitro systems (Thiem et al 2017).…”

“…Rich sources of ecdysteroids are of particular interest due to promising perspectives on the use of these compounds in many subdisciplines of medical sciences. As multi-drug resistance inhibitors, they can become a valuable adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy, while their antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic activities can prove useful in prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic injuries (Thiem et al 2017).…”

“…Ecdysteroids are primarily obtained from the plant material harvested from the natural site or from cultivated plants (Lafont and Dinan 2003;Głazowska et al 2018). They are, however, also produced employing plant in vitro cultures, a source that is often richer in those compounds and where numerous methods increasing ecdysteroid content can be applied under controlled conditions (Thiem et al 2017).…”

Ecdysone Elicits Chronic Renal Impairment via Mineralocorticoid-Like Pathogenic Activities

“…So-called adaptogens can contain ecdysteroids -steroidal insect molting hormones that also exist in herbs [2][3][4][5]. Ecdysteroid-containing adaptogens have been popularly used for improving well-being and by bodybuilders for muscle growth [6][7][8].…”