CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Reprogramming of Medicinal Plants for Enhanced Anti-Cancer Bioactive Compounds “Advances in Genome Editing for Plant-Derived Therapeutics”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64149/J.Carcinog.24.3.350-356Keywords:
CRISPR/Cas9, medicinal plants, genome editing, anti-cancer compounds, bioactive metabolites, DPPH assay, plant-derived therapeuticsAbstract
The development of effective plant-derived therapeutics has gained significant momentum due to the growing demand for safer alternatives to synthetic drugs. Among medicinal plants, secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds exhibit strong anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. However, natural biosynthetic yields are often insufficient to meet large-scale pharmaceutical needs. Recent advances in genome editing, particularly the CRISPR/Cas9 system, have opened new avenues for enhancing the production of these bioactive compounds. CRISPR/Cas9 enables precise and efficient reprogramming of metabolic pathways in medicinal plants by knocking out competitive genes, activating biosynthetic regulators, and introducing favorable mutations. Such modifications not only increase the accumulation of targeted anti-cancer metabolites but also improve their pharmacological relevance. In addition, the integration of metabolomic profiling and antioxidant assays, such as the DPPH free radical scavenging method, provides critical insights into the therapeutic potential of genome-edited plants. These approaches facilitate the identification of enhanced antioxidant and anti-cancer activities, validating the functional benefits of genetic interventions. This review highlights the role of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated reprogramming in boosting the biosynthesis of anti-cancer phytochemicals, explores case studies of edited medicinal plants, and evaluates their antioxidant potential through DPPH and related assays. Furthermore, we discuss the translational impact of genome editing on sustainable plant-based drug production and its implications for next-generation cancer therapeutics. By bridging genome editing technologies with bioactivity validation, this study underscores the promise of CRISPR/Cas9 in shaping the future of plant-derived pharmaceuticals.
