Hairy roots of Salvia species for bioactive substances production

Abstract

The biosynthesis of biologically active secondary metabolites in plant tissues is frequently related to their differentiation. From this point of view, the hairy roots are a suitable plant in vitro system for producing bioactive substances due to their degree of differentiation and metabolic profiles identical to or similar to that of the root systems of the intact plants from which they are derived. In addition, they are grown in growth regulators-free nutrient media, which is essential for the subsequent application of their metabolites in variety of nutritional and pharmaceutical systems. They are characterized by high genetic and biochemical stability, making possible the scale-up of the cultivation processes in bioreactors. This provides complete control and management of the biosynthetic process and results in high yields of target metabolites for a short period of time, regardless of seasons. Salvia plant species are widely used in traditional medicine. The major biological activities they possessed are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor activities and etc. These activities are consequence of biosynthesized biologically active substances: sterols, various polyphenol structures, di-and triterpenes, etc. Data about Salvia hairy roots in the scientific literature are limited. Nevertheless, it is clear that they biosynthesized mainly diterpenes and phenolic compounds. Current progress of investigation of Salvia hairy roots is limited to the phytochemical profiling and assessment of the influence of different independent variables (mainly elicitors) on the yields of the target bioactive substances and the development of commercial production process is not visible at the time. Therefore in the near future it is necessary an integrated approach for optimizing production processes to be developed. In our opinion, this is the basis for successful achievement of the commercially important yields of bioactive substances produced by hairy roots of Salvia species.