Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
07:24
Production of Chemicals by Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Bamboo Hydrolysate as Feedstock
Published on: June 29, 2017
Production of shikimic acid
Saptarshi Ghosh1, Yusuf Chisti, Uttam C Banerjee
1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar-160 062, Punjab, India.
Biotechnology Advances
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Shikimic acid, crucial for antiviral drug synthesis, faces supply challenges from star anise. Microbial fermentation and biotransformation offer promising, scalable alternatives for its production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Organic Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Shikimic acid is an essential precursor for synthesizing oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), a vital antiviral medication.
- Current supply predominantly relies on extraction from Chinese star anise seeds (Illicium verum), posing significant supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Star anise cultivation involves a six-year maturation period and is susceptible to environmental factors, impacting consistent availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare various methods for producing shikimic acid.
- To evaluate the feasibility and scalability of alternative production routes.
- To identify the most promising future strategies for shikimic acid synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on shikimic acid production.
- Analysis of chemical synthesis, plant extraction, microbial fermentation, and biotransformation pathways.
- Assessment of economic viability and technological maturity of different methods.
Main Results:
- Plant extraction from star anise is currently dominant but faces supply and cost challenges.
- Microbial fermentation is an increasingly viable and scalable production method.
- Biotransformation of quinic acid presents a promising alternative route.
- Chemical synthesis and other methods are generally too expensive or underdeveloped.
Conclusions:
- Relying solely on star anise for shikimic acid is unsustainable due to supply chain risks.
- Microbial fermentation, particularly in recombinant microorganisms, is poised to become the preferred production method.
- Diversifying production strategies is crucial for ensuring a stable supply of this key pharmaceutical intermediate.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Production of Organic Acids
Lactic acid, an important organic acid extensively applied in food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable polymer industries, is primarily produced via microbial fermentation. This method is favored over chemical synthesis due to its environmental sustainability and capacity for enantiomerically pure product formation. Among various microbial processes, the fermentation of starch-based substrates stands out due to the abundance and renewability of raw materials like corn and potatoes.Hydrolysis of...
01:35Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of Malonic Acid Derivatives
Just like β-keto acids—which upon thermal decarboxylation form ketones—β-dicarboxylic acids undergo decarboxylation to generate monocarboxylic acids with the liberation of carbon dioxide.
01:14Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Malonic ester synthesis is a method to obtain α substituted carboxylic acids from ꞵ-diesters such as diethyl malonate and alkyl halides.
01:30Production of Pharmaceuticals
Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
00:53Products of the Citric Acid Cycle
The cells of most organisms—including plants and animals—obtain usable energy through aerobic respiration, the oxygen-requiring version of cellular respiration. Aerobic respiration consists of four major stages: glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. The third major stage, the citric acid cycle, is also known as the Krebs cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.
01:19α-Hydroxy Ketones via Reductive Coupling of Esters: Acyloin Condensation Overview
The pinacol and McMurry reactions involve the reductive coupling of ketones or aldehydes. Similarly, the bimolecular reductive coupling of two ester molecules in the presence of sodium metal in an aprotic solvent yields an α-hydroxy ketone product. The α-hydroxy ketone is also called acyloin, so the reaction is referred to as ‘acyloin condensation.’