HARNESSING PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR GENETIC RESILIENCE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STABILITY IN HIGH VALUE MEDICINAL CROPS: A REVIEW

Abstract

Global climate change severely threatens the phytochemical stability of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) by disrupting secondary metabolite biosynthesis, compromising strict clinical standardization. This review examines the integration of functional genomics, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to engineer abiotic stress resilience in these critical crops. To ensure field-engineered resilience successfully translates to the laboratory, we evaluate advanced green extraction technologies, highlighting Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) alongside analytical validation via HPLC and GC-MS. Using Psoralea corylifolia L. as a model, we demonstrate how precise extraction prevents the structural degradation of thermolabile bioactives like psoralen and bakuchiol. Finally, we explore the future of these stabilized extracts in nanobiotechnology, specifically their application in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for targeted anti cancer therapeutics. Bridging precision molecular breeding with strictly calibrated downstream phytochemistry is essential for the sustainable, standardized production of plant-derived medicines.