Niraj Tripathi1, Divya Shrivastava2, Bilal Ahmad Mir3, Shailesh Kumar4, Sumit Govil2, Maryam Vahedi5, Prakash S Bisen6. 1. Biotechnology Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur 482004, India. 2. School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur 302017, India. 3. Department of Botany, Satellite Campus Kargil, University of Kashmir, J&K, Srinagar-190006, India. 4. Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur 303002, India. 5. Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, University of Tehran 3391653755, Iran. 6. School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur 302017, India; School of Studies in Biotechnology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474001, India. Electronic address: psbisen@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Withania somnifera, a high value medicinal plant is a major source of pharmaceutically important active compounds withanolides. Withania somnifera has been used in ayurveda as health restorative and anabolic agent besides having anti-arthritic, antidepressant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-stress, neuroprotective and cardio-protective activities. HYPOTHESIS/ PURPOSE: The mining of the compound(s) of interest offers opportunity to identify desired attributes in the therapeutic area of interest. Metabolomic has become an important tool in the field of pharmacological and functional genomics of medicinal plants. The analysis supports the information regarding differential outline of the gene expression for increasing important withanolides viz. withanolide A and withaferin A in W. somnifera. STUDY DESIGN: The bioinformatics and biotechnological approaches viz. tissue culture, genetic transformation, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, gene mining and metabolomic studies have opened new windows about engineering of withanolide production. METHODS: Target and network analysis for maximum therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera have been determined by employing Genemania software for finding interactions among various human genes that are being affected by active constituents. RESULTS: Some of the major bioactive compounds of Withania somnifera have been discussed on protein-protein, protein-DNA and genetic interactions with respect to gene and protein expression data, protein domains, metabolic profiling, root organ culture, genetic transformation and phenotypic screening profiles CONCLUSION: The implementation of latest bioinformatic tools in combination with biotechnological techniques for breeding platforms are important in conservation of medicinal plant species in danger. The current review is based on molecular and in vitro methodologies employed in W. somnifera for accepting their importance in the improvement of this valuable medicinal species.
BACKGROUND: Withania somnifera, a high value medicinal plant is a major source of pharmaceutically important active compounds withanolides. Withania somnifera has been used in ayurveda as health restorative and anabolic agent besides having anti-arthritic, antidepressant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-stress, neuroprotective and cardio-protective activities. HYPOTHESIS/ PURPOSE: The mining of the compound(s) of interest offers opportunity to identify desired attributes in the therapeutic area of interest. Metabolomic has become an important tool in the field of pharmacological and functional genomics of medicinal plants. The analysis supports the information regarding differential outline of the gene expression for increasing important withanolides viz. withanolide A and withaferin A in W. somnifera. STUDY DESIGN: The bioinformatics and biotechnological approaches viz. tissue culture, genetic transformation, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, gene mining and metabolomic studies have opened new windows about engineering of withanolide production. METHODS: Target and network analysis for maximum therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera have been determined by employing Genemania software for finding interactions among various human genes that are being affected by active constituents. RESULTS: Some of the major bioactive compounds of Withania somnifera have been discussed on protein-protein, protein-DNA and genetic interactions with respect to gene and protein expression data, protein domains, metabolic profiling, root organ culture, genetic transformation and phenotypic screening profiles CONCLUSION: The implementation of latest bioinformatic tools in combination with biotechnological techniques for breeding platforms are important in conservation of medicinal plant species in danger. The current review is based on molecular and in vitro methodologies employed in W. somnifera for accepting their importance in the improvement of this valuable medicinal species.