Biotransformations, Plant Cell Cultures, Micro Organisms, Chemial Synthesis, Digitoxin, Hydroquinone, Arbutin, Stevioside

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	Biotransformations - Plant cell cultures are also being utilized for producing valuable products including secondary metabolites through biotransformation, a technique also utilized with the help of microbes (microbial transformation). In this technique, low cost precursors are used as a substrate and are transformed into value added high cost products. Atleast in some cases, this transformation is achieved more easily by cultured plant cells, than either by micro organisms or by chemical synthesis. Following are some of the examples of the use of cell cultures in biotransformation:
(a) Suspension culture of Digitalis lanata can convert 'digitoxin' or 'methyl digitoxin into medically important 'digoxin' or 'methyl digoxin', which is used for treatment of heart diseases. The conversion rate has been estimated to be as high as 15% in 24 hours and 70% in 7 days. (b) Datura cell cultures possess ability to .convert 'hydroquinone' into 'arbutin' (used as diuretic and urinary antiseptic) through glycosylation. (c) Cell cultures of Stevia rebaudiana and Digitalis purpurea, can convert steviol into 'steviobiocide' and 'stevioside' which are 100 times sweeter than cane sugar.