Production and Functionalities of Specialized Metabolites from Different Organic Sources

Abstract

Medicinal plants are rich sources of specialized metabolites that are of great importance to plants, animals, and humans. The usefulness of active biological compounds cuts across different fields, such as agriculture, forestry, food processing and packaging, biofuels, biocatalysts, and environmental remediation. In recent years, research has shifted toward the use of microbes, especially endophytes (bacteria, fungi, and viruses), and the combination of these organisms with other alternatives to optimize the production and regulation of these compounds. This review reinforces the production of specialized metabolites, especially by plants and microorganisms, and the effectiveness of microorganisms in increasing the production/concentration of these compounds in plants. The study also highlights the functions of these compounds in plants and their applications in various fields. New research areas that should be explored to produce and regulate these compounds, especially in plants and microbes, have been identified. Methods involving molecular studies are yet to be fully explored, and next-generation sequencing possesses an interesting and reliable approach.

Antarctic Sphingomonas sp. So64.6b showed evolutive divergence within its genus, including new biosynthetic gene clusters

“…NRPS and PKS are peptide biosynthesis machinery of natural products with multiple bioactivities (Giordano et al, 2015). Likewise, lanthipeptides and terpenes have been related to antimicrobial activity compounds (Giordano et al, 2015;Oladipo et al, 2022).…”

Nutraceutical Properties of Medicago sativa L., Agave spp., Zea mays L. and Avena sativa L.: A Review of Metabolites and Mechanisms

“…Bioactive compounds present in plants (more than 2 million identified), also called phytochemicals, are produced by the defense system that is activated by the presence of biotic and abiotic stress conditions; in addition to improving the general health status of plants, they participate in molecular signaling and in plant-environment interaction [1,2]. The biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites in plants has specific localization organs from which they are transported to the whole plant and the main storage parts (vacuoles) [3].…”

“…The said techniques are reported to identify and classify without significant mistakes. 1 H-NMR-spectroscopy-PCA was used to characterize syrup profiles and chemometrics, what allowed the sweeteners' classification by origin and kind of Agave. The agave syrups exhibited appreciable amounts of saponins, cardiac glucosides, and terpenoids (excelled in color intensity in the reaction) followed by glucosides, quinones, flavonoids, and coumarins in moderate amounts.…”

Eco-Friendly Preservation of Pharaonic Wooden Artifacts using Natural Green Products

“…In general, plants are a rich source of various chemical compounds; secondary metabolites comprise up to 30% of the dry mass of plants and play an essential role in their protection against microbial pathogens [16]. Plant extracts are obtained from various plant parts including bark, leaves, fruits, flowers, buds, seeds, and wood [17].…”