Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewedSupporting researchRegenerative

Exploring endophytes for in vitro synthesis of bioactive compounds similar to metabolites produced in vivo by host plants

Hemant Kumar Sharma, Arun Kumar Rai, Divakar Dahiya, Rajen Chettri, Poonam Singh Nee Nigam

AIMS Microbiology · 2021

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Summary

This narrative review examines endophytes — microorganisms naturally residing within plant tissues — and their capacity to produce bioactive secondary metabolites in laboratory culture that replicate those synthesised by their host plants in vivo. The authors propose that isolating endophytes from specific plants and cultivating them in vitro could yield host-specific secondary metabolites for applications in sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals and industrial biotechnology, potentially reducing dependence on harvesting vulnerable plant species whilst supporting crop resilience and non-toxic livestock feed development.

Regional applicability

The paper is a general conceptual review without geographic specificity. Its findings on endophyte biotechnology applications would be transferable to United Kingdom agricultural and pharmaceutical contexts, particularly for developing resilient crops and sustainable feed additives, though practical implementation would depend on local endophyte biodiversity and regulatory frameworks.

Key measures

Not specified — this is a conceptual/narrative review rather than an empirical study with quantitative metrics

Outcomes reported

The paper explores the potential of endophytic microorganisms isolated from plants to synthesise secondary metabolites in vitro that mirror those produced in vivo by host plants. It discusses applications for sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals, crop resilience and livestock feed development.

Supporting research

Indexed author review abstract specifically includes endophyte applications for resilient crops and non-toxic livestock feeds.

Limits: Mixed agricultural/pharmaceutical synthesis; no new crop or dietary trial is demonstrated. Host metabolites and laboratory synthesis do not establish field performance.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Laboratory / in vitro
DOI
10.3934/microbiol.2021012
Catalogue ID
SNmutc72e3-cawd1l

Topic tags

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