What is a Metabolic Pathway?

A metabolic pathway is a network of biochemical reactions orchestrated within the cell. Broadly, metabolic pathways can be classified into two types:

• Primary metabolic pathways: essential for the plant’s survival (growth, respiration, reproduction).
• Secondary metabolic pathways: responsible for the production of molecules often specific to a plant species, used for defense and protection against external conditions.

Plants are exposed to many stresses and have developed mechanisms to protect themselves from:

• Abiotic factors: environmental conditions such as climate, water, light
• Biotic factors: living organisms such as pathogens or pests

The metabolites produced for the plant’s own protection also offer benefits for humans: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties…

Secondary metabolites fall into three main groups:

• Terpenes: volatile or non-volatile, often fragrant (menthol, limonene…).
  Role: attract pollinators, repel herbivores, protect from UV radiation.
• Phenolic compounds and derivatives: flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids.
  Role: antioxidants, pigments, defense against pathogens.
• Nitrogen-containing compounds or alkaloids: caffeine, nicotine, morphine.
  Role: toxic to herbivores, sometimes neuroactive.

Other classifications sometimes include additional groups. However, these three families (terpenes, phenolic compounds, alkaloids) cover the vast majority of known plant secondary metabolites.

These families contain many bioactive compounds sought by the cosmetics, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries for their benefits to human health.

Why is Orius investigating these pathways, and what value does this bring ?

For thousands of years, humans have been interested by the properties of plants and have used them for food, medicine and to improve their well-being.

However, plant-derived actives have sometimes been replaced by synthetic molecules, which are more stable and better suited to industrial constraints. Plants can be fragile, supply can be disrupted by poor harvests or extreme weather, and from one batch to another they show significant chemical variability.

Indeed, metabolite production - and therefore chemical profiles - varies greatly depending on the stresses the plant encounters: drought, heavy rainfall, sunlight exposure, access to nutrients etc…

In this CIRAD study, large seasonal and yearly fluctuations in triterpenoid concentration were observed in Centella asiatica, even when harvests were done in the same geographical area.

Orius’ strength lies in using indoor farming as a research platform.

It allows us to isolate environmental factors and identify those that modulate a plant’s phytochemistry. 

By mastering metabolic pathways, it becomes possible to:

• Boost the production of a target metabolite, yielding a more concentrated and more effective plant, while reducing the required dosage.
• Drive the plant toward producing rare compounds, including molecules it once produced earlier in its evolution but no longer synthesized under current environmental conditions.
• Inhibit the production of undesirable agents (toxic, photosensitizing, allergenic, etc.). Plants often contain highly valuable molecules but also others that complicate formulation and require energy-intensive purification processes. Producing plants in which these unwanted molecules are not expressed opens the door to greener extraction methods.

Optimizing plant phytochemistry means offering unique, highly effective, scientifically characterized ingredients while enabling eco-friendly extraction techniques.

Interview - Pierre-François Pluchon, Head of R&D at Orius

Why does Orius study plant metabolic pathways?

Our goal is to harness the natural abilities plants have developed over their evolution to survive and thrive. By understanding their metabolism, we can guide the production of active molecules so they are synthesized consistently, sustainably and in higher quantities.

There is no magic recipe - it is neither simple nor linear.

Each adjustment can have multiple effects. A single metabolic pathway can lead to the production of several compounds, some of great interest to us, others less desirable (e.g., photosensitive or toxic molecules). A parameter may increase a compound of interest but also impact plant health or yield. Intense light, for example, may boost certain metabolites but harm the plant overall health and limit long-term viability.

Plants also respond when multiple stimuli occur at the same time. Just like flowering in spring or dormancy in winter is triggered by both light and temperature, the production of active molecules is often regulated by multiple environmental factors.

We must therefore identify these factors and determine the best combination in terms of intensity and/or duration.

Furthermore, responses are not always immediate: some involve delays or feedback loops, further complicating the identification of one (or several) key triggers.

How do you identify the most promising pathways?

We begin by studying the scientific literature on the target molecule, plant or group of plants to establish an initial hypothesis about key factors. We also rely on our extensive internal database of past experiments, which provides valuable analytical insights.

We then design experimental plans to test these hypotheses in real models such as: How does light affect production? What about nutrition? Does a shorter night increase metabolite accumulation? etc... Each group of hypothesis is specific to a plant and a target molecule.

Because plant responses are complex, we use also AI-based predictive models to rationalize and optimize experimentation.

We create a mapped experimental design with key points to test. Our tools analyze the results and predict the most promising scenarios. These scenarios are then tested in real conditions, and the new data refines our model, improving our understanding of the plant and its mechanisms.

The results allow us to determine the most favorable conditions.

Having developed our own cultivation, lighting and nutrition systems is critical to our approach. It allows us to be highly precise yet versatile and to adapt to the specific needs of each plant and each experiment. When our research requires complex cultivation systems, our engineers find ways to implement them effectively in our facilities.

Conclusion

Exploring and leveraging plant metabolic pathways means unlocking the full potential of plants, understanding their inner workings and finding ways to tailor them to our clients’ needs -ultimately creating exceptional botanical ingredients. At Orius, this approach is rooted in traceability, naturality and sustainability.

Cutting-edge science serving responsible, sustainable innovation.

References 

(1) Jean Marc Sanchez. k.center. Le stress des plantes. Le stress des plantes.

(2) Rahajanirina, V. et al. The Influence of Certain Taxonomic and Environmental Parameters on Biomass Production and Triterpenoid Content in the Leaves of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. from Madagascar. Chem. Biodivers. 9, 298,308 (2012)