De novo transcriptome based molecular insights into secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Malaxis acuminata (Jeevak) - An endangered terrestrial orchid of broad-spectrum therapeutic importance

The work focuses on the tissue specific NGS based transcriptomic insights into the genes involved in the biosynthesis of metabolites of broadspectrum therapeutic importance. The plant Malaxis acuminata is one of the prized medicinal herbs with no transcriptome sequencing done till date. The plant is extensively used in the treatments of cough and cold, bacterial infections, anti ageing, photoprotective and skin protective treatment. Phytochemistry data from previous published reports suggest that the plans serve as a rich repertoire of prized molecules of which Eugenol and beta-sitosterol are the most prominent fractions. In the present study, the genes belonging to the two biosynthetic pathways: mevalonate and phenylpropanoid pathways involved in the biosynthesis were targeted using illumina sequencing from two tissue parts: leaf and pseudobulb. The fold change of the genes estimated by in silico approaches were cross validated using qRT-PCR approach. The present research provides vital molecular cues to the metabolome and therapeutic make up of the endangered medicinal orchid Malaxis acuminata.