German title: Intensivierung der Produktion von biologischen Wirkstoffen: Pflanzliche Zellkulturen als Produktionssysteme (PflanzProd)

The production of bioactive metabolites is of great importance for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Traditional cultivation methods often depend on agricultural conditions, leading to fluctuations in quality and availability. Plant cell cultures offer a sustainable alternative: they grow under controlled conditions, independent of seasons or geography, and provide a consistent product quality.

Our project focuses on Ocimum basilicum (basil), which produces valuable triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid and ursolic acid with antiviral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim is to develop innovative bioprocesses that increase production efficiency through aerosol-based reactor systems. These reactors reduce mechanical stress on cells, improve CO₂ supply, and enable scalable cultivation.

Key research areas include:

• Establishing new basil cell lines and identifying high-yield producers.
• Using elicitors to specifically enhance triterpenoid biosynthesis.
• Testing immobilized cell systems to improve stability and reproducibility.
• Evaluating scalability and economic feasibility for industrial use.

The project is a collaboration between the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau and Tanta University (Egypt), combining expertise in bioprocess engineering and natural product chemistry. Joint research stays, workshops, and publications will ensure international visibility and knowledge transfer.

Ultimately, the project contributes to the sustainable production of pharmaceutical compounds and opens new opportunities for the industrial use of plant cell cultures.