Pharmaceutical industries are using the concept of biotechnology since long
. Till now, the ideas of this technology were confined to microbial world and organisms belonging to animal origin for drug development. But now the scenario has completely changed. Now, the Biotechnological plants are concentrating more and more on using genetically engineered plants instead of other living organisms for the manufacture of medicines.
Genetically engineered plants are developed by introduction of genes of host organism into the target and then applying the gene expression method. The genes that are introduced into the target organism can be implied to develop the required substance. In the midst of numerous organisms that can be used for the production of biopharmaceuticals, Escherichia coli are the most important. The first human insulin was produced by this bacterium only and several other therapeutic proteins can also be produced. Almost 60% of drugs manufactured by biotechnological plants use this bacterium. This is a very potential way of drug development.
Rapid growth of PMPs is going on in various countries. PMPs are the plants that can be used to produce effective and reliable drugs. These plants are named as first, second and third generation plants. The plants that are already used in biotechnological plants to produce effective medicines are termed as first generation plants. The plants that are vigorously used and have filled their initial criteria are termed as second generation plants. The plants that are still undergoing research process and are at their initial stages are termed as third generation plants.
Many countries are now using food crops like soya and maize and non-food crops like tobacco for production of medicines. It should be taken care that genetically engineered plants should not mix with other eatables and crops. Out of 100 pharmaceutical products sold in market, nearly 20 are the result of biotechnological industries. By this fact, it can be concluded that it has emerged as a very successful technology and its future is very gleaming.