Enhancement of Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants via in vitro Mutagenesis

The production of secondary compounds in therapeutic and aromatic plants carries great importance in pharmaceutical research, as these compounds represent valuable resources for drug discovery. Additionally, plants employ these metabolites as a means of protection against herbivores, as well as for defending themselves against other plant species and various environmental challenges. In vitro mutagenesis provides an efficient and comprehensive method of growing mutant plants in plant organs, tissues, and cell cultures. This methodology can be employed to generate medicinal compounds such as anticancer agents including paclitaxel, camptothecin, vincristine, and vinblastine. As a result, utilizing in vitro mutagenesis shows great potential in augmenting the production of secondary metabolites in plant cultivation. Traditional plant breeding is a time-consuming and resource-intensive approach to enhancing the capacity of aromatic plants to yield secondary metabolites. In contrast, contemporary biotechnological methods like genetic engineering and genome editing offer cost-effective means to enhance aromatic plants. These techniques can significantly enhance the effectiveness of acquiring high-yield plants, create resistant variants, and establish improved breeding lines. This review highlights the significance of elucidating the mechanisms involved in augmenting secondary metabolite compounds, improving mutagenesis procedures, and the potential implications for the economic and environmental sustainability of cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants. Additionally, this review seeks to offer valuable perspectives on how in vitro mutagenesis can be a substantial biotechnological strategy for the sustainable enhancement of secondary metabolites, elevating their medicinal and aromatic attributes.