Harnessing the versatility of diverse pentacyclic triterpenoid synthesis through hairy root cultures of various Ocimum species: An unprecedented account with molecular probing and up-scaling access

Biosynthesis of two pharmaceutically and nutraceutically active Pentacyclic-triterpenes (PCTs), namely Corosolic [CA] and Arjunic [AA] acids, had been first time achieved in the hairy root (HR) clones of four Ocimum species (O. basilicum, O. grattisimum, O. kilimandscharicum and O. sanctum), contrasting to their absence in the respective controls. Additionally, compared with each in-vivo controls, their respective HR clones revealed enhanced synthesis of four more PCTs, (i.e., Ursolic acid [UA], Oleanolic acid [OA], Maslinic acid [MA], and Betulinic acid [BA]), in growth dependent manner with notable inter-species yield variations. Real-time analysis revealed noticeable up-regulations of functionally-defined hydroxylase and oxidase genes of CYP716 family in the HR clones over that of their parents, which postulates their possible involvements in the synthesis of CA & AA plus increased levels of the other PCTs in the HR clones. Bioreactor up-scaling further revealed rewarding potentials of the HR technology in Ocimum for synthesis of such distinctive PCTs of immense industrial applications. [Display omitted] •Establishment of hairy roots in Ocimum gratissimum, O. kilimandscharicum, O. basilicum &O. sanctum.•First report of maslinic, corosolic & arjunic acid synthesis in hairy root clones of four Ocimum species.•Production of three more anticancer pentacyclic triterpenes in hairy root clones of all selected Ocimum species.•Bioreactor up-scaling of all Ocimum species hairy root clones revealed enhanced productions of biomass & triterpenes.•qRT-PCR analysis showed up-regulations of CYP716 family genes in hairy root clone than parent plants.