Biosynthetic Pathways and Metabolic Engineering of Bioactive Natural Products from Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants produce a vast array of structurally diverse natural products with remarkable pharmacological activities. These bioactive compounds have long served as valuable sources for drug discovery and therapeutic agents. However, their complex biosynthetic pathways remain incompletely understood, limiting efforts to enhance their production or develop novel derivatives. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology have greatly accelerated the identification of key biosynthetic genes and enzymes involved in natural product formation. Deciphering these pathways not only deepens our understanding of plant secondary metabolism but also enables the rational design of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies for sustainable production of valuable phytochemicals.

The goal of this Research Topic is to address the current challenges in elucidating and optimizing the biosynthetic pathways of bioactive natural products from medicinal plants. Despite remarkable progress, many key enzymes, intermediates, and regulatory networks involved in natural product biosynthesis remain unidentified. Understanding these pathways is crucial for improving metabolite yield, enabling heterologous expression, and facilitating the discovery of novel compounds with therapeutic potential. Recent advances in omics technologies, gene mining, protein structure prediction, and genome editing tools—such as CRISPR/Cas and synthetic biology platforms—provide unprecedented opportunities to dissect complex biosynthetic routes. This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge studies that reveal biosynthetic mechanisms, explore enzymatic functions, and develop metabolic or synthetic biology strategies to harness medicinal plants as green factories for the sustainable production of high-value natural products.

This Research Topic focuses on recent advances in understanding and engineering the biosynthetic pathways of natural products from medicinal plants. It covers the identification of biosynthetic genes and enzymes, elucidation of catalytic mechanisms, and regulation of metabolic networks. Studies exploring pathway evolution, transcriptional control, or metabolite diversification are also encouraged. Research integrating multi-omics analysis, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, or synthetic biology to enhance the production or structural diversity of bioactive compounds is particularly welcome. The Topic aims to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and provide new insights into the molecular basis and biotechnological potential of medicinal plant secondary metabolism.