Phytocannabinoids Biosynthesis in Angiosperms, Fungi, and Liverworts and Their Versatile Role

• Main Authors: Yamshi Arif, Priyanka Singh, Andrzej Bajguz, Shamsul Hayat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: abiotic stress; cell homeostasis; heterologous host synthetic approach; terpenophenolics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1307

Phytocannabinoids are a structurally diverse class of bioactive naturally occurring compounds found in angiosperms, fungi, and liverworts and produced in several plant organs such as the flower and glandular trichrome of <i>Cannabis sativa</i>, the scales in <i>Rhododendron</i>, and oil bodies of liverworts such as <i>Radula</i> species; they show a diverse role in humans and plants. Moreover, phytocannabinoids are prenylated polyketides, i.e., terpenophenolics, which are derived from isoprenoid and fatty acid precursors. Additionally, targeted productions of active phytocannabinoids have beneficial properties via the genes involved and their expression in a heterologous host. Bioactive compounds show a remarkable non-hallucinogenic biological property that is determined by the variable nature of the side chain and prenyl group defined by the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. Phytocannabinoids possess therapeutic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties; thus, they are used in treating several human diseases. This review gives the latest knowledge on their role in the amelioration of abiotic (heat, cold, and radiation) stress in plants. It also aims to provide synthetic and biotechnological approaches based on combinatorial biochemical and protein engineering to synthesize phytocannabinoids with enhanced properties.