by Liliana Todorinova

Plant Stem Cell Technology

innovation in cosmetics – reader’s digest

What are Plant Stem Cells?

they are undifferentiated cells

located in root meristem, shoot meristem, and vascular meristem

create all differentiated cell types

and self-renew, keeping constant the

number of stem cells they are not embryonic

cells

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem_cell

Published by BeautyBusinessToday.com

In this microscopy of root meristem, the stem cells are

located within zone 1

Published by BeautyBusinessToday.com

How does it work?

Isolate stem cells

•In theory one individual plant or even organ (leaf, root, stem, flower, ...) can suffice for the isolation of stem cells. In practice, meristems are very fragile structures easily damaged by the very process of mechanical separation

Put in culture

conditions

•The isolated stem cells will be placed in a tank with liquid culture medium under optimal growth conditions.

Harvest

•The stem cells will divide and form bumps (callus) structures, which are harvested and cleaned

Extract substances

• from the callus plant material

Published by BeautyBusinessToday.com

What are the key issues?

isolation• stem cells from plant meristems are

easily destroyed during extraction

culture conditions

• plant cell stem technology was known for decades but not used industrially because it used to produce giant callus structures which would block the tank

differentiation

• the plant produces some substances of interest only as a reaction to its environment, therefore in some cases a “differentiation” step might be required

Published by BeautyBusinessToday.com

What advantages?

Biodiversity

• No need to collect plants in the wild

Eco-friendly• very little water

used for culture

Consumer Safety

• no pesticides, herbicides

• no heavy metals• no genetic

modification

BeautyBusinessToday .com

Brought to you by