Medicinal
Technologies-
Production of Podophyllotoxin An Anti-Cancer Drug,
By Plant Cell Fermentation
Introduction
Anti cancer drug podophyllotoxin is
currently extracted from the roots of the whole plant
Podophyllum hexandrum (an endangered species) which
could lead to its extinction in due course of time.
Further the plant grows only in the Himalayan region.
Mass propagation of the plant tissue culture could provide
a solution. to the problem and also the much needed
drug. The root explants of the germinated seedlings
of P.hexandrum were used successfully to develop the
callus as well as the suspension culture of the cells.
The effect of the culture and environmental parameters
has been studied to produce the drug at high conc. in
the suspension culture. The application of fed batch
culture strategy has further enhanced the productivity
of the drug in lab - scale bioreactor.
Special Features:
The drug can be produced by fermentation process
using plant cells instead of traditional way of cutting
the whole plant and extracting the drug from it.
Glossary:
Podophyllum hexandrum - A plant species belonging to
Berberidanceae family. It grows at an altitude of about
4000 meters in the Himalayan range. In the naturalplant,
it synthesizes the anti-cancer drug, podophyllotoxin,
in its roots; Fermentation- A process which employs
biological agents (microorganisms, plants, animals or
enzymes) for production of primary or secondary metabolites
(alcohols, organic acids, antibiotics, enzymes, pharmaceuticals,
alkaloids, flavours etc.) in a fermenter/bioreactor
under optimal culture conditions.
Developed by : Dr. K A Srivastava
Department: Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Contact:
Managing Director
Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT)
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, INDIA
Tel : 91-011-26597167, 26857762, 26581013, 26597153
Fax : 91-011-26851169
E-mail : drkdpn@gmail.com
