What is Artemisinin?

• Antimalarial drug derived from the sweet wormwood

plant, Artemisia annua.
• Sesquiterpene lactone derivative
• Most potent and rapid acting blood schizonticides
• Short duration of action
• Poorly soluble in water and oil
• May be administered orally, intramuscularly, or as a
suppository. (Rogers et al., 2014)
Synthetic Production of Artemisinin

(Westfall P J et al. PNAS 2012)

 Production link with ELSI
• The semi-synthetic artemisinin (SSA) provides a
viable and cost-effective alternative.
• The platform for producing SSA is yeast whose
metabolic pathways have been genetically engineered
• Main benefits of producing artemisinin in a semi‐
synthetic way are its expected lower production costs
and the stable supply.
• Pharmaceutical companies will be able to enhance
their control over the production process. (Engelhard et
al.,2013)
 What is Vanillin?
• A white crystalline solid with a pleasant, sweet aroma,
and a characteristic vanilla-like flavor. (Encyclopedia et
al.,2021)
• Used as a food additive.
• Enhancing flavor in food and beverage industry and as a
biopreservative because of its antimicrobial and
antioxidant properties. (Walton et al.,2003)
• Three manufacturing processes: 
Extraction from vanilla bean, Chemical synthesis
and Microbiological fermentation. (Foodadditives et al.,2020)
 Production of Vanillin
Biotechnological production by several approaches:
1. Use of enzymes to release or generate vanillin from
Vanilla and other plant material
2. Development of tissue cultures
3. The use of microbial cultures
4. Genetic modification (Walton et al., 2000; Priefert et al., 2001)
Biotechnology-Based Processes for Vanillin
Production
• Bioconversion of (2-Propenyl Benzenes) to Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Isoeugenol (Propenylbenzene-1) to
Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Lignin to Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Ferulic Acid to Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Glucose or Glycoside to Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Phenolic Stilbenes to Vanillin
• Bioconversion of Vanillic Acid to Vanillin (Kaur et
al.,2013)
 Safety Aspects of Vanillin
• Vanillin is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations
by the (FDA) as Generally Recognized As Safe
(GRAS) substance.
• No significant health or carcinogenic risk to humans.
• Vanillin is not an allergic sensitizer.
• Has low potential for acute and chronic toxicity.
(Vidal et al., 2000)
 References
• Rogers, K. (2014, December 18). Artemisinin. Encyclopedia
Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/artemisinin
• Westfall, P. J., Pitera, D. J., Lenihan, J. R., Eng, D., Woolard, F. X.,
Regentin, R., ... & Paddon, C. J. (2012). Production of
amorphadiene in yeast, and its conversion to dihydroartemisinic
acid, precursor to the antimalarial agent artemisinin. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, 109(3), E111-E118.
• https://www.slideshare.net/nasertadvi/antimalarial-drugs-15555784
• Asveld, L., Osseweijer, P., & Posada, J. A. (2019). Societal and
ethical issues in industrial biotechnology. In Sustainability and Life
Cycle Assessment in Industrial Biotechnology (pp. 121-141).
Springer, Cham.
• Engelhard, M., Coles, D., Weckert, J., & Lingner, S.
(2013). Case studies–Overview of Ethical Acceptability
and Sustainability (5.1).
• https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/academic-and-edu
cational-journals/vanillin
• https://foodadditives.net/flavors/vanillin/
• Kaur, B., & Chakraborty, D. (2013). Biotechnological and
molecular approaches for vanillin production: a review.
Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, 169(4), 1353-
1372.
• Vidal, J. P. (2000). Vanillin. Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia
of Chemical Technology.