Abstract

Crocins are water-soluble apocarotenoids isolated from the flowers of crocus and gardenia. They exhibit various pharmacological effects, including neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory properties, hepatorenal protection, and anticancer activity. They are often used as coloring and seasoning agents. Due to the limited content of crocins in plants and the high cost of chemical synthesis, the supply of crocins is insufficient to meet current demand. The biosynthetic pathways for crocins have been elucidated to date, which allows the heterologous production of these valuable compounds in microorganisms by fermentation. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry, pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and heterologous production of crocins, aiming to lay the foundation for the large-scale production of these valuable natural products by using engineered microbial cell factories.

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 741–752. doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.68

摘要

藏红花素是从藏红花和栀子花中分离出来的水溶性类胡萝卜素。它们具有多种药理作用，包括神经保护、抗炎特性、肝肾保护和抗癌活性。它们通常用作着色剂和调味剂。由于植物中藏红花素的含量有限，且化学合成成本较高，藏红花素的供应量不足以满足目前的需求。迄今为止，藏红花素的生物合成途径已被阐明，这使得微生物可以通过发酵异源生产这些有价值的化合物。该综述文章对藏红花素的化学、药理活性、生物合成途径和异源生产进行了全面的概述，旨在为利用工程微生物细胞工厂大规模生产这些有价值的天然产物奠定基础。

贝尔斯坦 J. 组织。化学。 2024, 20, 741–752。 doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.68