Elsevier Biofabrication and Synthetic Biology in Medicinal Plants: Advances in Biotechnology and Breeding

Biofabrication and Synthetic Biology in Medicinal Plants: Advances in Biotechnology and Breeding presents recent technological advances for enhancing medicinal plants as sources of plant-based biopharmaceuticals. It covers biofabrication, synthetic biology, modern biotechnological tools, and innovative breeding strategies tailored for medicinal plant improvement. While these technologies are well established in crop plants, their application in medicinal plants remains underexplored. Medicinal plants are rich sources of therapeutic compounds traditionally used across cultures to treat a wide range of diseases and health conditions. These plants produce diverse bioactive molecules, including terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, many of which exhibit significant pharmacological potential. For centuries, medicinal and aromatic plants have played a vital role in human healthcare and continue to be valued globally. Recent advances in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and biotechnology promise to enhance the production, quality, and efficacy of these bioactive compounds, addressing unmet medical needs and contributing to sustainable healthcare. This book compiles insights from leading experts, offering a comprehensive reference for researchers, early-career scientists, students, and professionals working in medicinal plant biotechnology and breeding. Explores topics from plant extraction and bioactive compound identification to genetic engineering applications in plant-based medicine Highlights scientific validation of traditional remedies and the use of synthetic biology to improve compound production and efficacy Includes case studies illustrating real-world applications of synthetic biology in medicinal plants Identifies opportunities and challenges in applying biotechnology and breeding to lesser-known medicinal and aromatic species