oxidations, reductions, and hydrolysis. Phase II reactions, in turn, encompass conjugations with glutathione, carbohydrates, malonic acid, and amino acids. In phase
III, these conjugates are transported and stored in the vacuole or bound to the cell
wall. Pharmaceutical metabolism in plants has been investigated by using different
approaches, namely, the use of whole plants grown in soil or hydroponic cultures,
the use of plant tissues, and the incubation of specific plant cell suspensions. While
studies relying on whole plants require long growth periods and more complex
analytical procedures to isolate and detect metabolites, they constitute more realistic
scenarios with the ability to determine site-specific metabolism and the translocation
within the plant. The advantage of in vitro studies lies in their rapid setup. Recent
advances in plant-microbiota investigations have shown that the plant microbiome
modulates the response of the plant towards pharmaceuticals. Rhizospheric and
endophytic bacteria can directly contribute to pharmaceutical metabolism and influence plant uptake and translocation of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites. Additionally, they can have beneficial properties for the host, contributing to plant health
and fitness. This chapter gives an overview of human and plant drug metabolism
followed by a comparison of different models used to identify pharmaceutical
metabolites and their metabolic pathways in plants. A description of the mechanisms
and reactions originating these metabolites is concisely presented. Finally, the role of
the microbiome is critically discussed with examples of synergies between plants
and their associated microbiota for pharmaceutical degradation.
Keywords Hairy roots, Human drug metabolism, Pharmaceuticals, Plant
metabolism, Plant microbiome
Abbreviations
AAP
Acetaminophen
ABC
ATP-binding cassette
ACC
1-Aminocylcopropane-1-carboxylic acid
ALD
Alcohol dehydrogenase
ALDH
Aldehyde dehydrogenase
AO
Aldehyde oxidase
BChE
Butyrylcholinesterase
CBZ
Carbamazepine
CES
Carboxylesterase
CIP
Ciprofloxacin
CMP
Clomipramine
CW
Constructed wetland
CYP
Cytochrome P450
Cys
Cysteine
DCF
Diclofenac
DME
Drug-metabolizing enzyme
DZP
Diazepam
222
A. Sauvêtre et al.
III, these conjugates are transported and stored in the vacuole or bound to the cell
wall. Pharmaceutical metabolism in plants has been investigated by using different
approaches, namely, the use of whole plants grown in soil or hydroponic cultures,
the use of plant tissues, and the incubation of specific plant cell suspensions. While
studies relying on whole plants require long growth periods and more complex
analytical procedures to isolate and detect metabolites, they constitute more realistic
scenarios with the ability to determine site-specific metabolism and the translocation
within the plant. The advantage of in vitro studies lies in their rapid setup. Recent
advances in plant-microbiota investigations have shown that the plant microbiome
modulates the response of the plant towards pharmaceuticals. Rhizospheric and
endophytic bacteria can directly contribute to pharmaceutical metabolism and influence plant uptake and translocation of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites. Additionally, they can have beneficial properties for the host, contributing to plant health
and fitness. This chapter gives an overview of human and plant drug metabolism
followed by a comparison of different models used to identify pharmaceutical
metabolites and their metabolic pathways in plants. A description of the mechanisms
and reactions originating these metabolites is concisely presented. Finally, the role of
the microbiome is critically discussed with examples of synergies between plants
and their associated microbiota for pharmaceutical degradation.
Keywords Hairy roots, Human drug metabolism, Pharmaceuticals, Plant
metabolism, Plant microbiome
Abbreviations
AAP
Acetaminophen
ABC
ATP-binding cassette
ACC
1-Aminocylcopropane-1-carboxylic acid
ALD
Alcohol dehydrogenase
ALDH
Aldehyde dehydrogenase
AO
Aldehyde oxidase
BChE
Butyrylcholinesterase
CBZ
Carbamazepine
CES
Carboxylesterase
CIP
Ciprofloxacin
CMP
Clomipramine
CW
Constructed wetland
CYP
Cytochrome P450
Cys
Cysteine
DCF
Diclofenac
DME
Drug-metabolizing enzyme
DZP
Diazepam
222
A. Sauvêtre et al.