Journal of Medicinal Plants Biotechnology

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Medicinal plants, as valuable sources of secondary metabolites, play a vital role in various industries. However, the natural production of these compounds is often limited. This review article aims to systematically examine the role and mechanisms of action of nanoparticles (including metallic, non-metallic, and carbon types) as novel elicitors for enhancing the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.
Method and Theoretical Principles: The foundation of this review is based on the analysis of existing scientific evidence, which indicates that nanoparticles activate plant defense signaling pathways by inducing mild oxidative stress and generating reactive oxygen species. This process, in turn, leads to the modulation of key gene expression and the regulation of enzyme activities involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.
Results: Nanoparticles boost biosynthesis of phenols (2.3‑fold), flavonoids (80%), alkaloids, and essential oils (230%). For instance, essential oil in yarrow rose by 230% and silymarin in milk thistle by 75%. This review covers the shared and distinct mechanisms of these nano‑elicitors in various plants.
Conclusion: In summary, nanoparticles represent a promising and powerful strategy for the sustainable enhancement of the production of plant metabolites with high commercial value. The future perspective of this field includes optimizing the type, size, and concentration of nanoparticles for specific species, more detailed investigation of signaling pathways at the molecular level, and comprehensive assessment of the safety and regulations associated with the use of this technology in agriculture and industry.

Abstract The genus Thymus is one of the plants with a Mediterranean distribution. This plant has about 350 species and in Iran there are 14 species of aromatic and perennial plants that grow in mountainous areas and have an important impact on treatment, health and various industries due to having more than 20 types of major known chemical compounds. The percentage of thyme essential oil varies between 0.8 and 1.4 and most of its components include phenolic compounds, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Thymol is the main component of phenolic compounds in the thyme plant. Thyme leaves are used in food products and the plant's essential oils is used in various beverages and pharmaceutical, health and cosmetic industries. Thyme oil has properties such as antispasmodic, carminative, antifungal, antibacterial, disinfectant, anthelmintic, antirheumatic, expectorant, antioxidant, natural food preservative and delaying the aging of mammals. Thyme essential oil is one of the ten famous essential oils that has a special place in global trade. This study provides a general overview of scientific research and findings, especially the species and morphological and phytochemical diversity of the Thyme genus. So far, much research has been conducted on this genus, but due to the high diversity of species in this genus, as well as diverse climatic and ecological effects and numerous subspecies, there is no appropriate conclusion in this regard. It is hoped that by summarizing the findings of the researchers, a new horizon can be opened in the study of endemic species of Iran and high-yielding varieties worldwide.

Abstract In light of the growing demand for medicinal plants and their increasing significance in global society, this study examined the essential oils composition and phenolic content in the flowers and leaves of Stachys schtschegleevi. Plant samples were collected from the Jolfa region, and the essential oils were extracted using a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the percentage of essential oil in the flower organs was 39% higher than in the leaves. Analysis of the essential oils identified 61 compounds in the flowers (98.39% of the total) and 49 compounds in the leaves (98.73% of the total). The dominant compounds in the flower organs were germacrene D (20.69%), α-cadinol (9.51%), α-muurolene (7.16%), n-hexadecanoic acid (5.93%), thymol (5.41%), spathulenol (4.77%), α-pinene (4.62%) and β-pinene (4%). The dominant compounds in Pulak leaf essential oil were found to be α-pinene (12.98%), germacrene D (11.92%), α-cadinol (7.9%), thymol (6.91%), n-hexadecanoic acid (4.82%), spathulenol (4.44%) and α-muurolene (4.22%). Evaluation of the phenolic compounds showed that the total phenol and flavonoid content in the flowers (81.8 and 3.5 mg/ g of dry extract, respectively) was higher than in the leaves (56.1 and 3 mg/g of dry extract, respectively). Therefore, due to its higher essential oil percentage and greater richness in phenolic compounds, the flower organ of Stachys schtschegleevi is considered more suitable than the leaf organ for industrial applications, particularly in the field of essential oil extraction.

Abstract The excessive and improper use of antimicrobial agents has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, It necessitates the discovery and implementation of new sources to combat microbial pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of ethanolic extract of Ziziphus spina-christi leaves against four bacteria; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Initial screening of the antibacterial activity of the extract was performed using the disk diffusion method. Subsequently, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the microdilution method, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was identified through microbial culture. According to the results, the highest antibacterial effect of the leaf extract was observed against Corynebacterium glutamicum. The microdilution test showed that the MIC for all bacteria, except Escherichia coli, was 75 mg/mL. The lowest survival rate was observed in Corynebacterium glutamicum and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The MBC for these two bacteria was determined to be 150 mg/mL, while for Escherichia coli, it was 300 mg/mL. The findings of this research demonstrated that Ziziphus leaf extract has notable antibacterial activity, especially against the studied Gram-positive bacteria, and could be considered a natural source for developing of new antibacterial drugs.

Abstract Medicinal plants are recognized as significant sources of natural antioxidants due to their bioactive compounds, particularly phenolics and flavonoids, which have shown potential in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. These compounds are widely studied for their notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The efficiency and profile of extracted phytochemicals are highly influenced by extraction parameters, including solvent type, solvent concentration, and extraction time. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different extraction methods, namely maceration and ultrasound, along with solvent type and concentration (ethanol and methanol at 50% and 70%), and extraction durations (5 and 10 minutes), on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of extracts from Portulaca oleracea and the leaves and fruits of Ziziphus spina-christi. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with two replications for statistical analysis. The results revealed that the highest phenolic content was obtained from P. oleracea extract using the maceration method with 70% methanol for 5 minutes. Similarly, the highest flavonoid content was observed in Z. spina-christi leaf extract under the same conditions. Regarding antioxidant activity, the most potent effect was recorded in the leaf extract of Z. spina-christi using 70% ethanol and an extraction time of 10 minutes. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing extraction conditions to enhance the recovery of beneficial bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, thereby improving the antioxidant potential of the resulting extracts.

Abstract In order to evaluate the physiological and biochemical responses of different ecotypes of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) seedlings to drought stress, an experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions in 2023 at the Seed Quality Analysis Laboratory of the Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute, Karaj, Iran, using a completely randomized design with three replications. In this study, seeds of nine native caper ecotypes collected from Ardabil Province (Moghan), Alborz (Karaj), Ilam Province (Mehran), North Khorasan Province (Bojnord), Kermanshah Province (Dalahoo), and Khuzestan Province (Ramhormoz, Hendijan, Mahshahr, and Ahvaz) were evaluated. Drought stress was imposed using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) at an osmotic potential of −6 bar. The results indicated that drought stress significantly increased malondialdehyde content from approximately 6.5 to 11.3 nmol g⁻¹ FW and hydrogen peroxide from 3.1 to 6.0 µmol g⁻¹ FW, while total chlorophyll content decreased from 0.35 to 0.21 mg g⁻¹ FW. In contrast, proline content (12.7–45.8 µg g⁻¹ FW), total phenolic content (2.6–3.6 mg gallic acid g⁻¹ FW), and antioxidant capacity (38–47% DPPH inhibition) showed significant increases under drought conditions. Comparison among ecotypes revealed that under non-stress conditions, the Karaj and Moghan ecotypes exhibited greater physiological stability, whereas under drought stress, the Mahshahr and Hendijan ecotypes showed the lowest oxidative damage indices and the highest accumulation of protective compounds, and were therefore identified as drought-tolerant ecotypes. Overall, the results highlight the key role of antioxidant defense mechanisms and osmotic adjustment in the adaptation of caper plants to drought stress conditions.

Abstract Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a woody, evergreen perennial medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family that is rich in phenolic, flavonoid, and terpenoid compounds. Rosemary is known for its analgesic, anti-rheumatic, and carminative properties and is traditionally used to alleviate respiratory disorders and epilepsy. The importance of rosemary in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and healthcare industries, together with its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, has attracted considerable research interest. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of harvest time on biomass production, phytochemical characteristics, essential oil yield, and essential oil composition of rosemary. This study was conducted as a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three harvest times (March, June, and July), and five replications during the 2022–2023 growing seasons at a rosemary farm in Gotvand, Khuzestan Province, Iran. The evaluated traits included fresh and dry biomass, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, essential oil content, essential oil yield, and essential oil composition. Essential oil constituents were identified using GC–MS. Analysis of variance showed that harvest time significantly affected fresh and dry biomass, total flavonoid content, and essential oil content, but had no significant effect on total phenolic content or antioxidant capacity. GC–MS analysis identified 30 compounds, 13 of which were major constituents. Harvesting in July maximized essential oil yield, indicating that this harvest time is optimal for rosemary cultivation under the climatic conditions of Khuzestan Province.

Abstract This study aimed to elucidate the multilayered regulatory network controlling tanshinone biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza, focusing on microRNA–gene interactions, transcription factors, and cis-regulatory elements. mRNA sequences of three key pathway genes (CPS1, KSL1, and CYP) were retrieved from the NCBI database, and microRNA sequences were collected from miRBase. Target prediction was performed using psRNATarget with an Expectation threshold of 5. Network architecture were visualized in Cytoscape. Promoter sequences (~2000 bp upstream) were extracted and analyzed for transcription factor binding sites using PlantRegMap and PlantCARE, with results processed for graphical representation in TBtools. A total of 252 microRNAs from 28 families were identified as targeting these three genes (CPS1: 84, KSL1: 90, CYP: 79). Dominant families included miR781/miR319/miR482 for CPS1, miR156/miR902 for KSL1, and miR2630/miR399 for CYP. Several microRNAs (e.g., miR7492 and miR482) targeted multiple pathway genes simultaneously, indicating cooperative regulatory activity and the potential for enhanced post-transcriptional repression. Transcription factor binding site analysis revealed high-frequency interactions (KSL1: 387, CPS1: 240, CYP: 159) involving WRKY, ERF, MYB, bZIP, and Dof families. Promoters were enriched in cis-elements responsive to light, ABA, MeJA, and gibberellin. These findings demonstrate that tanshinone biosynthesis is governed by a coordinated transcriptional and post-transcriptional network, allowing dynamic modulation and co-regulation in response to environmental and hormonal signals. The identified genes and microRNAs represent promising targets for experimental validation (e.g., ChIP-qPCR, EMSA) and metabolic engineering strategies, including CRISPR and RNAi, to enhance tanshinone production.

Abstract Plants synthesize a huge variety of secondary metabolites with complex chemical composition that not only have medicinal value but are also important to deal with biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The aim of current study was to investigate the impact of heat shock treatment on the production of secondary metabolites in callus obtained from of Echinacea purpurea plant. For this purpose, seeds were grown on MS medium. Then root explants were prepared from 45 days seedlings and transferred to MS medium containing 0/5 and 1 mg/L 2,4-D and Kin. Heat shock treatment at 35 °C for different time durations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) was daily applied on 2 months old callus. After a week, the samples were collected and different biochemical analysis was performed. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenol, total flavonoid, soluble suger, MDA, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid was observed in samples that were treated for 60 min at 35 °C. On the other hand, the present data revealed that heat shock treatment caused a significant increase in catalase and peroxidase activity, but there was not any significant difference between different treatments. As a conclusion, heat shock treatment can be used as a new method to enhance secondary metabolites production in Echinacea in tissue culture contion.

Abstract Drogonhead from the Lamiaceae family is an important plant with many uses . This research was performed in pots and done in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split-split plot layout with three replications. Irrigation regimes (D1-D3: Field Capacity, 50% and 75% evaporation from basin class A) in main plots, superabsorbent nano-polymer application (S1-S2: use and not use) in sub plots and treatments of fertilizers in sub-sub plots were done. Over two consecutive years, the obtained results showed that the use of treatments increased the characters and made the significant effectiveness. In two years, the highest shoot dry matter (54.43 g.plant-1), zinc of shoot (68.12 µg/g dry weight), iron of shoot (75.68 µg/g dry weight), phenol (1.22 mg.Kg Fw-1), chlorophyll content (2.55 mg.g-1 DW) and essential oil content (1.12 %) made by grow-more fertilizers specially grow-more 1 (20-20-20) in combination with Fe/Zn Libfer with irrigation regime of 25% evaporation. The lowest values for morpho-physiological and phytochemical characters such as shoot dry matter (19.82 g.plant-1), zinc of shoot (25.43 µg/g dry weight), iron of shoot (38.43 µg/g dry weight), phenol (0.33 mg.KgFw-1), chlorophyll content (1.88 mg.g-1 DW) and essential oil content (0.28 %) obtained by plants treated with irrigation regime of 75% evaporation from basin class A (D3) and no application of fertilizers. Generally the application of grow-more fertilizer 1 (20-20-20) with consumption of zinc and iron fertilizers can be a good strategy to improve morpho-physiological characters and essential oil quantity and quality of D.moldavica in same climates.

Abstract

Abstract Salinity stress, as one of the major challenges in agriculture, disrupts water and nutrient uptake by accumulating sodium and chloride ions in the soil, leading to reduced plant growth and yield. This stress damages plant cells through oxidative stress and disrupts metabolic processes. In this study, the effects of different salinity levels (0, 2.5, and 5 dS/m) and salicylic acid foliar application (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) on purslane (Portulaca oleracea) were investigated using a completely randomized factorial design with three replications. The results showed that salinity reduced plant growth and negatively affected chlorophyll a and b content. However, the application of salicylic acid (1 mM) mitigated these adverse effects by improving potassium uptake. Although salinity increased sodium and chloride accumulation, salicylic acid improved plant tolerance by reducing oxidative stress and maintaining photosynthetic efficiency. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that salicylic acid can serve as an effective strategy to enhance purslane's resistance under saline conditions.

Abstract The medicinal plant garlic (Allium sativum L.) is known for its synthesis of allicin, a defense molecule that exhibits various biological activities. Traditional medicine uses this medicinal plant to alleviate numerous diseases due to the wide range of effects of garlic. Allicin is produced from alliin during the cutting of garlic by the activity of the enzyme allinase and is effective against a wide range of microorganisms. Allicin is hydrophobic in nature, can efficiently cross cell membranes, and behaves as an active sulfur species inside cells. It is a physiologically active molecule with the ability to oxidize the thiol groups of glutathione and between cysteine residues in proteins. Allicin is physiologically active in microbial, plant, and mammalian cells. Allicin can inhibit the proliferation of bacteria and fungi in a dose-dependent manner or kill cells completely. In addition, in mammalian cell lines, including cancer cells, allicin causes cell death and inhibits cell proliferation. In plants, allicin prevents seed germination and reduces root growth. The study showed that allicin has a wide range of pharmacological activities. Allicin has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer properties, the ability to reduce cardiovascular diseases, improve the immune system and regulate blood sugar. The antimicrobial and antioxidant functions of allicin are due to the reaction of allicin with the thiol group of various enzymes, respectively; to inhibit the metabolism of cysteine protease and to trap free radicals. Allicin prevents the occurrence and progression of cancer by blockin

Abstract Catharanthus roseus is an important medicinal plant containing alkaloids such as vinblastine and vincristine, which have strong cell division inhibitory activity and can serve as a colchicine alternative in polyploidization programs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of C. roseus on cell division in meristematic cells of onion (Allium cepa) roots. Extracts at four concentrations (0, 20, 50, and 100%) were applied to onion bulbs. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized factorial design with three replications. Traits assessed included root length and number, rooting time, mitotic and phase indices, chromosome counts, and cytological abnormalities such as multinucleation and chromatid bridges. Results showed that increasing extract concentration reduced root length, and rooting was delayed in the ethanolic extract, with the greatest delay observed at 100% concentration. The highest prophase index was recorded at 20% extract for both types, while the highest telophase index occurred at 100% ethanolic extract. Mitotic index peaked at 20% and 50% ethanolic extracts. Chromosomal abnormalities, including stickiness, breakage, and duplication, were mainly observed in 50% ethanolic extract, whereas chromatid bridges appeared only in 50% aqueous extract. These findings indicate that C. roseus alkaloids can influence mitosis and may be applied in breeding programs and polyploidization of medicinal plants.

Abstract Achillea genus is belonging to Asteraceae. The composition of the active ingredients of plants in different climatic conditions show very different constituent in phytochemical propertiesand , In order to investigating quantity and quality of essential oils of three species of achillea in Zanjan provences plant samples collected from northern heights of Zanjan After selecting a suitable plants, after harvesting the whole vegetative body of the plant was harvested in the full bloom time and after drying in room, and its essential oil was extracted by distillation . Then, the components of the essential oil were identified and the amount of the components was identified using a gas chromatography device connected to a mass spectrometer. The results showed that the essential oil of Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch had a yellow color with a yield of 0.89%. The results of GC-MS showed that the essential oil of this plant is composed of 106 substances in which 15 representative compounds 54% were total essential oil. In the study of essential oil of Achillea tenuifolia Lam, it was found that 20 substances constituted 54.37% of essential oil. Also, the essential oil of Achillea millefolium was white with a yield of 0.74%, GC-MS results showed that this essential oil The plant in the region is composed of 105 substances, of which 10 compounds represented 50.78% of the total essential oil Which 47 compounds accounted for 81.05% of the essential oil.

Abstract Artichoke medicinal plant (Cynara scolymus L.) is a herbaceous, diploid and perennial plant. This plant is native to the Mediterranean region and belongs to the Asteracea family. It is rich

in polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, inulin, coumarins, terpenes, dietary fibre, enzymes, polysaccharides, minerals and vitamins Several studies have shown that artichokes have properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,. Due to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of this plant, which contains very little fat and high levels of minerals, vitamin C, fiber, inulin, polyphenols, hydroxycinnamates and flavones. But its most effective substance can be related to polyphenols, which are mainly composed of mono and dicaffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. The first research related to tissue culture in this plant dates back to 1973. The first reports on the secondary metabolites of this plant were on synaropecarin, which was recorded and reported for the first time in 1960 by Suchy and his colleagues.Optimization of different physical conditions such as temperature, aeration, light stirring and chemical factors such as addition of growth regulators and precursors to culture media for in vitro production of these active compounds are described. Furthermore, cultures of transformed hairy roots, induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection, have been discussed as an important technique to maximize the production of secondary metabolites in vitro. In this research, a general overview of the history and the time trend of biotechnology research has been made, and the problems, results, and research findings of the world's researchers have been collected.

Abstract Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, which has both medicinal and nutritional properties. It seems that harvesting time has an important effect on the quantity and quality of plant products especially on secondary metabolites. In order to analysis of plant or field age on some physiological, biochemical and secondary metabolites characteristics of artichoke, a research project was carried out in a completely randomized design at the research field of medicinal plants at the University of Zanjan. One-year old and two-year old artichoke farms were selected as experimental treatments, and then three plots were randomly selected from each farm in which the plant specimens were taken and the desired traits were measured. According to the results: some traits such as: leaf dry weight, leaf length and width, amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids, root soluble proteins and carbohydrates increased at second year old plants. However; shoot soluble proteins and carbohydrate and also the total number of extracted secondary metabolites were decreased by increasing of plant age. D-methyl Buta Dienil (26.18 %), Pentacosadiynoic acid (21.24%), Inositol (10.97%) and Tetramethyl-octahydronaphthalen (9.61%) were the major compounds of one-year old artichoke plants and scyllo inositol (59.01%), methyl-hexadecatetra enoate (20.46%), isopropenyl-methanol (5.2%) and glucopyranose (4.71%) were the major components two-year old artichoke plant leaf extract.  It can be concluded that plant age has noticeable effects on growth and biochemical and specially on secondary metabolites properties of artichoke.

Abstract Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the oldest medicinal and spice plants in the world. Several factors affect the growth and production of saffron including: age and the number of corms per surface area, soil texture, the time of plant culture, time and kind of irrigation, mineral nutrition and ecological factors. It seems that the quantity and quality of saffron products are greatly different at different plant ages. The plant or field age has important effect on growth indices of saffron and its secondary metabolites. In order to investigate the effects of plant age on secondary metabolites and some physiological factors of saffron, a research project was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications at the research field of medicinal plants of the University of Zanjan. Three saffron farms with different biological ages of one, two and five years old were selected as experimental treatments, and then three plots were randomly selected from each farm and the desired traits were measured. Results showed that, increasing of the age of saffron plants in this experiment increased fresh weight of plant and dry weight of stigma. 5-yraes old plants showed the highest amounts of these traits. Whereas, the contents of soluble proteins and sugars and photosynthetic pigments were higher at first year and decreased by increasing of plant age. Number of secondary metabolites decreased when the age of plants increased as in one–year old saffron plants 26 metabolites and in 5-year old plants only 15 metabolites were detected. Loliolid (18%) and thymol (17%) in 1-year old plants and thymol (19%) and camphor (14%) in 5-year old plants showed the highest level among all detected secondary compounds. Generally according to these results, plant age has an important effect on the number and kinds of secondary metabolites in saffron which should be considered at the time of saffron harvesting.   

Abstract Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the oldest medicinal and spice plants in the world. In order to investigate the effects of plant age on secondary metabolites and some physiological factors of saffron, a research project was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications at the research field of medicinal plants of the University of Zanjan. Three saffron farms with different biological ages of one, two and five years old were selected as experimental treatments, and then three plots were randomly selected from each farm and the desired traits were measured. Results showed that, increasing of the age of saffron plants in this experiment increased fresh weight of plant and dry weight of stigma. 5-yraes old plants showed the highest amounts of these traits. Whereas, the contents of soluble proteins and sugars and photosynthetic pigments were higher at first year and decreased by increasing of plant age. Number of secondary metabolites decreased when the age of plants increased as in one–year old saffron plants 26 metabolites and in 5-year old plants only 15 metabolites were detected. Loliolid (18%) and thymol (17%) in 1-year old plants and thymol (19%) and camphor (14%) in 5-year old plants showed the highest level among all detected secondary compounds. Generally according to these results, plant age has an important effect on the number and kinds of secondary metabolites in saffron which should be considered at the time of saffron harvesting.

Abstract The increasing tendency of human societies to use herbal medicines has caused an increase in the demand for effective medicinal plants. Despite many advances in the field of artificial synthesis of effective plant substances, extraction from plant sources is still the only way to obtain many valuable medicinal substances. A group of alkaloids are natural drugs that are known as sedatives and painkillers; Like morphine and codeine, which are obtained from poppy, they are the most common painkillers. Currently, the country's annual need for morphine is 30 tons, which will increase with the increase in population. 70% of Iran's needs are supplied by importing concentrated poppy straw (CPS) and 30% from opium sap etc. About 5000 types of alkaloids are known in 15% of plants belonging to 150 plant families, among which tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, atropine and scopolamine are widely used in medicine. One of the main uses of poppy alkaloids in the pharmaceutical industry is They are in painkillers. Today, the industrial production of tropane alkaloids through new techniques such as plant cell and tissue culture, somatic hybridization, metabolic engineering, large-scale cultivation and its commercialization using bioreactors has attracted a lot of attention. This article examines poppy alkaloids and their biosynthetic pathways, which can be useful in clarifying the future direction of research in this field.