Biotechnological approaches for conservation and secondary metabolites production in medicinally important species of genus Saussurea

Saussurea DC. is a well-recognized genus for its commercially important secondary metabolites with its maximum diversity in the Himalayas and East Asia. The rising demand for versatile metabolites (costunolide, syringin, hispidulin, jaceosidin, rutin) poses a threat to the natural habitat of Saussurea spp. As a result, plant cell and tissue culture technology have attained cutting-edge progress for its conservation and secondary metabolites production. To date, various protocols of in vitro micropropagation, cell culture, somatic embryo genesis, and cryopreservation have been studied extensively for the conservation and specialized metabolite production in the genus Saussurea. Furthermore, to enhance in vitro biosynthesis of these metabolites, the application of elicitors has also played a significant role. The evolution of protocols that have been achieved during the past years for the augmentation of secondary metabolites is envisaged to design species-specific elicitation strategies in this genus. Also, molecular cues unpinning the genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis have been studied in this genus. Therefore, the present review summarizes the up-to-date information on biotechnological prospects such as plant, cell, tissue, and organ culture, cryopreservation, and secondary metabolites production in Saussurea spp. This comprehensive review provides a better understanding of biotechnological tools implemented for conservation and specialized metabolite production to support its sustainability.& COPY; 2023 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This review summarizes the latest information on biotechnological prospects such as plant, cell, tissue, and organ culture, cryopreservation, and secondary metabolites production in the genus Saussurea. These techniques are crucial for the conservation of this plant and the production of its specialized metabolites.