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Controlled process generating repeatable results and production of novel compounds having higher biological activities.
About
The plant root production platform is a factory for producing high-value compounds that in exemplary cases exhibit higher bioavailability, improved health benefits, and have applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals and drug discovery. Synopsis: Arkansas State University (ASU) owns a patented, plant root based production platform that can be customized for various applications to reproducibly generate valuable compounds impacting human health. This technology is differentiated in that it is a plant based process capable of controlled, reproducible results, unlike production that occurs in nature, while it mimicks natural processes in that it produces high value combinations of compounds not producible by current industrial means. Process Summary: Plant hairy root cultures (HRCs) are obtained by transforming plant tissues with the “natural genetic engineer” Agrobacterium rhizogenes. HRC systems, including a patented system for production of high-performing antioxidants, have been developed for multiple applications in the laboratory of Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar at ASU. Specific projects to date include bioproduction of HRCs from medicinally active plant species such as peanut, muscadine grape, skullcap, and annatto. One HRC system developed at ASU is a patented system that reliably produces a unique combination of resveratrol analogues. These include Arachidin-1, Arachidin-3, and the compounds in the associated bulk extract. Data from standard, in vitro tests show that each of the foregoing exhibit significantly higher bioavailability and antioxidant properties, including improved health benefits, compared to other Resveratrol products currently on the market. Advantages: - Customizable platform with potential to reliably produce high value novel compounds from rare and/or unexplored plants. - Controlled process generating repeatable results. - Production of novel compounds and combinations of compounds having higher biological activities. - Genetically and biochemically stable plant root production system. Applications: HRCs system possess the diverse range of uses: Phytochemical production of bioactive compounds: major new topic of interest and covers several classes of phytochemicals, including alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolics.