Aims: The course aims to provide knowledge on the biochemistry of plant secondary metabolites and their application in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. The study course defines the major classes of secondary metabolites, their biosynthetic pathways, the main approaches for genetic manipulation of plants to allow a focused production of secondary metabolites, and finally, the application of bioactive molecules in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
Program: General introduction to plant secondary metabolites. Definition, systematic and physiological functions of secondary metabolites. Aromatic and medicinal plants. Extraction of the active metabolites and analysis techniques.
General introduction to plant secondary metabolites. Definition and systematic of secondary metabolites. Metabolic connections between primary and secondary metabolism. The ecological role of secondary metabolites. Allelopathy. Role of secondary metabolites in plant-pathogen interactions. Sites of synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites.
Terpenoids: synthesis of isopentenyl pyrophosphate: The mevalonate (MEV) and the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways. Biosynthesis of terpenoids, from mono- to tetra-terpenes: prenyltransferases and terpene synthases. Ecological role and applications in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
Phenolic compounds: biosynthesis: the shikimic acid pathway, biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. Synthesis of phenylpropanoids, benzoic acid derivatives, stilbenes, and flavonoids. Ecological role and biological activity. Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Alkaloids: classification, main biosynthetic pathways, and biological activity of selected molecules. Pharmaceutical applications.
Cyanogenic glucosides and sulfur-containing compounds. Ecological role and biological activity.
Biotechnological applications to produce plant secondary metabolites. Principles of plant cell culture. Organ and tissue cultures. Metabolic engineering in heterologous systems and plants.
