BIOTECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT OF SECONDARY METABOLITES IN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

Secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds play essential roles in the therapeutic efficacy of medicinal plants. However, their natural biosynthesis is often slow and influenced by environmental factors, leading to limited yields. Advances in biotechnology—including tissue culture, metabolic engineering, elicitor treatments, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing—have revolutionized strategies for enhancing secondary metabolite production. Experimental evidence demonstrates that elicitor application can increase alkaloid production in Catharanthus roseus by up to 200%, while metabolic engineering has successfully enhanced artemisinin yield in Artemisia annua by 3-fold. This paper synthesizes research on biotechnological interventions aimed at improving the yield and stability of secondary metabolites, with emphasis on tissue culture techniques, omics integration, and synthetic biology. The findings highlight the potential for scalable production of bioactive compounds to meet rising pharmaceutical and nutraceutical demands.