Ascertaining the Paradigm of Secondary Metabolism Enhancement through Gene Level Modification in Therapeutic Plants

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since ages plants with therapeutic effects are used for cur- ing several human ailments. With the development in modern biotechnological tools, these therapeutic compounds could be overexpressed in the plants. This review aims to compile the valuable information from the examples in the literature, regarding the biotechnological tools those could be useful for the overproduction of health-promoting biochemicals in the medicinal plants. Gene level modification is all about creating improved variety of plants that are highly resistant to pests and pesticides or contain higher levels of nutrients than con- ventional plants. Plant secondary metabolites constitute an ex- citing and vital aspect of research, due to their chemical diver- sity, varied biological functions and pharmacological activities. Gene modification, through Agrobacterium mediated trans- formation, RNA interference or CRISPER/Cas9, has opened avenues of improvement in medicinal plants and provide an alternative production system of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites for their commercial exploitation. Key words: Gene modification, Agrobacterium, RNA interfer- ence, CRISPR/Cas9, Medicinal plants