Biotechnology of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

Code:

BIOL4013

Acronym:

BIOL4013

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:ABBS	6	The study plan from 2019/20	1	-	6	42	162
M:BFBP	8	Plano de Estudos M:BFBP_2015_2016.	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

With this UC we intend to provide the UC students with solid knowledge about the potential of aromatic and medicinal plants (PAM) for obtaining high-value-added products by biotechnological processes. For this goal the following specific objectives are outlined:

(a) Perception of the defense mechanisms of plants against adverse abiotic and biotic environmental factors based on secondary metabolites;

(b) Perception of the applications of secondary metabolites based on the respective biological activities;

(c) Understanding the capabilities and limitations of production of secondary metabolites of high economic value by cell cultures, plant tissues and organs;

(d) Understanding of various techniques and methodologies that involve cultures of aromatic and medicinal plants for biotechnological production of compounds of high commercial value, such as:

d.1 - cultures in solid and in liquid medium in batch system and in continuous system, using bioreactors;

d.2 - elicitation techniques;

d.3 - techniques involving recombinant DNA;

d.4 - immobilization processes of molecules, cells, meristems and somatic embryos

d.5 - artificial seed production processes;

d.6 - processes of conservation/cryopreservation.

Learning outcomes and competences

We have in perspective the development of scientific and technological competencies at the highest level associated to the research, production and applications of MAP products by means of scientific and technological formation in the following domains:

(a) characterization, biogenesis and accumulation of natural products from plants usually recognised as medicinal an aromatic plants;

(b) techniques of extraction, identification and biotechnological production of bioactive secondary metabolites  (SM) used in pharmacology, functional foods and in pest and microbial control;

(c) biotechnology involving specific micropropagation techniques and manipulation of in vitro cultures of plants, organs, tissues and cells of MAP, selection and cryopreservation of high yield SM cell lines, for in vitro production of SM, without and/or with use of recombinant DNA technologies;

(d) techniques of immobilization and encapsulation of molecules, cells, meristems and somatic embryos and production of artificial seeds.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Biogenesis of active compounds from medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP). Techniques of extraction and analysis of natural products. Specific techniques of micropropagation for production of secondary metabolites (SM) by in vitro cultures of organs, tissues and cells of MAP, in solid and in liquid media. Artificial seeds. Selection and cryopreservation of high yield cellular lines. Production of SM by “de novo” synthesis and by biotransformation. Immobilization techniques. Examples of production of SM in systems of immobilized plant cells. Elicitation of SM production. Applications of genetic transformation techniques in the production of high added value SM. Production of SM by hairy roots and other kind of transgenic organs. Case studies of production of antioxidant phenolic compounds, saponins, essential oils, alkaloids, lipids, vitamins, natural plasticizers proteins, peptides, antibodies, antigens, coagulation factors, vaccines, immunemodulators.    

Mandatory literature

Olyver kayser and Wim Quax; Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, Willey, 2007. ISBN: ISBN: 978-3-527-31443-0 (e-Book)
Amarita Leva and M.R. Rinaldi; Recent Advances in Plant In Vitro Culture, INTECH, 2012. ISBN: 978-953-51-0787-3 (Open Access Book)
Chandra, Suman, Latta, Hermant, Varma, Ajit; Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants, Springer, 2013. ISBN: 978-3-642-29974-2 (e-Book)
Arora R. ; Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, CAB International, 2010. ISBN: 13: 978-1-84593-678-5 (e-Book)

Complementary Bibliography

Anne Kathrine Hvoslef-Eide and Walter Preil ; Liquid Culture Systems for in vitro Plant Propagation , Springer, 2005. ISBN: 1-4020-3200-5 (e-Book)
Viktor Nedovic and Ronnie Willaert; Applications of Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology, Springer, 2005. ISBN: 1-4020-3229-3
Crozier A, Clifford MN, Ashiara H. ; Secondary Metabolites. Occurrence, Structure and Role in the Human Diet, Blackwell Publishing Lda,, 2006. ISBN: 13_ 978-1-4051-2509-3 (e-Book)
Maurizio Lombardi, Elif Aylin Ozudogru, Shri Mohan Jain ; Protocols for Micropropagation of Selected Economically-Important Horticultural Plants, Humana Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-62703-073-1 (e-Book)

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes include expository lectures, work of experimental development and debates on specific themes on the medicinal and aromatic plants. The lectures are supported in projected images, book chapters, scientific papers previously available to the students in the web platform. The work of experimental development is supported in suitable guides of experimental work, being developed in groups of 4 students each. The debate moments focus themes to be distributed to each work group being encouraged the participation of each one of the students. The participation of the students is compulsory in all the sessions. The evaluation of the students consider the following criteria: participation in the classes (10%); a synthesis written work on one of the debated themes, eventually subjected of practical demonstration (30%); classification got in a final examination (60%).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	138,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	180,00

Eligibility for exams

The unjustified missing of 1/3  or more times (hours) of tutored classes or lack of delivery of the written work or its classification below 50%, implies the loss of frequency and prevent admission to exam. A minimum rating of 10/20 in the exam is required for approval the Curricular Unit

Calculation formula of final grade

2 x (6xE* + 3xTE* + 1xPA*) : 20 = Final Classification*

E   - Exam
TE - Work written
PA - Class participation

*  - Scale 0 to 20

Examinations or Special Assignments

TE includes reports and a monograph

Classification improvement

The improvement of the classification is possible by means of examination that will focus on all the material taught.
Only the examination component can be improved. The classification given to other evaluation parameters cannot be improved