fundamental research and clinical applications involving hair growth, tissue repair,
and burn wounds. The plant expression vector was created and introduced into
safflower plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Recombinant FGF10 was successfully expressed in safflower seeds and MTT assays demonstrated dosedependent effects of recombinant FGF10 on cellular proliferation (Huang et al.
2017).
Another product produced from safflower seeds was recombinant Apolipoprotein
A1 Milano. Apolipoprotein A1 is naturally found in HDL and functions in protecting
against cardiovascular disease by transporting the cholesterol from tissues to the
liver. Apolipoprotein A1 Milano has been produced in bacterial vectors and shown
to reduce atherosclerosis in humans and murine models. But production in bacterial
vectors and purification is difficult and costly. The study reported the successful
production of recombinant apoA1Milano in safflower seeds and successful extraction subsequently. Intravenous administration of the recombinant product obtained
was shown to effectively mobilize tissue cholesterol and reduce atherosclerosis in
murine models (Chyu et al. 2010).
Recombinant insulin has been produced in safflower seeds by the SemBioSys_a
Canadian company based in Calgary. Safflower tissues are transformed genetically
by inserting human insulin genes and insulin product accumulates in the seeds of the
mature transgenic safflower plant. The type of insulin produced by safflower is
proinsulin that is further converted by enzymes into the insulin called SBS-1000.
SBS-1000 has been found identical to human insulin. Transgenic safflower is hoped
to provide a cheaper source of insulin for people with diabetes (Mündel and Centre
2004).
17.7 Future Considerations
Safflower has gained considerable importance in the edible oil market. The trend
toward developing new and better varieties of safflower is increasing and is a focus
of research for improving safflower. Varieties with higher polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated fatty acids are of great interest and are being produced. More
varieties need to be developed as well using hybrid production and molecular
techniques as well.
Oil composition and nutritional profile are reported to change upon the change in
environmental conditions and type of soil along with genotype of the safflower.
More research is required in evaluating the effects of stressed environments such as
high salinity and low moisture conditions on safflower. New varieties need to be
developed that can thrive better in dry climates and are less affected by environmental changes specifically improving the yield under stress conditions.
A broad spectrum of functional and bioactive properties of safflower have been
reported in the literature. However, the active components are not fully characterized. Many studies have been conducted although but there is still a need to assess
the bioactivity of safflower. Also, most of the studies are conducted in vitro or on
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
447
and burn wounds. The plant expression vector was created and introduced into
safflower plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Recombinant FGF10 was successfully expressed in safflower seeds and MTT assays demonstrated dosedependent effects of recombinant FGF10 on cellular proliferation (Huang et al.
2017).
Another product produced from safflower seeds was recombinant Apolipoprotein
A1 Milano. Apolipoprotein A1 is naturally found in HDL and functions in protecting
against cardiovascular disease by transporting the cholesterol from tissues to the
liver. Apolipoprotein A1 Milano has been produced in bacterial vectors and shown
to reduce atherosclerosis in humans and murine models. But production in bacterial
vectors and purification is difficult and costly. The study reported the successful
production of recombinant apoA1Milano in safflower seeds and successful extraction subsequently. Intravenous administration of the recombinant product obtained
was shown to effectively mobilize tissue cholesterol and reduce atherosclerosis in
murine models (Chyu et al. 2010).
Recombinant insulin has been produced in safflower seeds by the SemBioSys_a
Canadian company based in Calgary. Safflower tissues are transformed genetically
by inserting human insulin genes and insulin product accumulates in the seeds of the
mature transgenic safflower plant. The type of insulin produced by safflower is
proinsulin that is further converted by enzymes into the insulin called SBS-1000.
SBS-1000 has been found identical to human insulin. Transgenic safflower is hoped
to provide a cheaper source of insulin for people with diabetes (Mündel and Centre
2004).
17.7 Future Considerations
Safflower has gained considerable importance in the edible oil market. The trend
toward developing new and better varieties of safflower is increasing and is a focus
of research for improving safflower. Varieties with higher polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated fatty acids are of great interest and are being produced. More
varieties need to be developed as well using hybrid production and molecular
techniques as well.
Oil composition and nutritional profile are reported to change upon the change in
environmental conditions and type of soil along with genotype of the safflower.
More research is required in evaluating the effects of stressed environments such as
high salinity and low moisture conditions on safflower. New varieties need to be
developed that can thrive better in dry climates and are less affected by environmental changes specifically improving the yield under stress conditions.
A broad spectrum of functional and bioactive properties of safflower have been
reported in the literature. However, the active components are not fully characterized. Many studies have been conducted although but there is still a need to assess
the bioactivity of safflower. Also, most of the studies are conducted in vitro or on
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
447