MICROMETABOLITE — “MICROMETABOLITE” – Research Training Network on the Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolite Production in Plants

Results in brief

“MICROMETABOLITE” – Research Training Network on the Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolite Production in Plants

Research in MICROMETABOLITE was focused on medicinal plants and their associated microorganisms. Plant-associated microorganisms such as endophytic bacteria and fungi (which reside inside living plants) and soil-borne, mycorrhizal fungi are essential to optimum plant health and growth. They are physiologically tightly interlinked with their hosts, and, hence, may induce or modulate the production of plant secondary metabolites. Microbial activities that enhance plant nutrient uptake may influence major synthesis pathways, in addition to external influences from herbivores, pathogens, and the abiotic environment. Moreover, endophytic bacteria and fungi themselves are known as producers of various plant-derived bioactive compounds. In MICROMETABOLITE, we extracted from the roots of Lithospermum and Alkanna plants belonging to the Boraginaceae family various naphtoquinone derivatives (e.g., alkannin and shikonin, A/S). These compounds are renowned for their positive effects in tissue regeneration and wound healing and have proven antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV-1, and anti-cancer activities. Boraginaceae-derived compounds are already used in various cosmetics and medicinal products, and there is growing interest in expanding the range of pharmaceutical application. However, synthesis in plant cultivation systems is often inconsistent and gives low yields as compared with wild plants growing on their native sites, which puts limits to commercialization. Research work done within the project explored the plant-associated microflora of Lithospermum and Alkanna plants with the aim of utilizing microorganisms for improving the production of bioactive secondary plant metabolites.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Plant-derived natural products or, more specifically, plant secondary metabolites are backbones of today’s pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry. Plant-associated microorganisms have been implicated an important role in sustaining plant growth and, through inducing or influencing synthesis pathways, in the production of plant secondary metabolites. MICROMETABOLITE aims at exploring the plant-associated microflora for improving the production of bioactive secondary plant metabolites that are of high value for industrial applications. The network will focus on members of the Boraginaceae plant family including Lithospermum and Alkanna species, which produce the naphtoquinones shikonin and alkannin derivatives (A/S). These plants are used for the production of several pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical preparations that are already on the market or in the final stages of development. Specifically, we will analyse relationships between the content of A/S or other secondary metabolites, the plant genotype, and the plant-associated microflora. Further, we will explore in which ways microorganisms beneficially influence metabolite production, and we will establish novel production systems, enabling that raw materials for industrial applications can be cultivated under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).MICROMETABOLITE aspires to create an environment that will foster synergistic cooperation between researchers in relevant, currently hardly inter-linked scientific disciplines and maximize the exploitation of plant biotechnology in accordance with the needs of the European pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. As the first network in this area, it will train some of the most talented European young scientists (ESRs) to become future leading scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs, who can take on leadership in the required scientific and technological discovery and in the development of next-generation pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH · WienCoordinatorAustria
ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS · THESSALONIKIGreece
ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON · ATHINAGreece
INSTITUT FUR PFLANZENKULTUR EK · SCHNEGAGermany
UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN · LOUVAIN LA NEUVEBelgium
UNIVERSITEIT GENT · GentBelgium

MICROMETABOLITE · “MICROMETABOLITE” – Research Training Network on the Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolite Production in Plants

Results in brief

“MICROMETABOLITE” – Research Training Network on the Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolite Production in Plants

Project objective

Participants

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