ASPERGILLUS NIGER BIOTIC ELICITORS OF SECONDARY PHARMACEUTICAL METABOLITES IN MEDICINAL PLANTS (IN VITRO): A REVIEW.

Aspergillus niger one of the most common and important fungal species It is; most commonly found in mesophilic environments such as decaying vegetation or soil and plants. Genome sequencing of A. niger as a biotic elicitorsis important because of its involvement in producing citric acid as well as industrial enzymes, such as amylases, proteases, pectinases and lipases. The use of these enzymes are essential because of its importance for transformation to food enzymes. Other properties of A. niger include of pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites or phytopharmaceuticals such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins and aflatoxin. Metabolite production, involvement in food spoilage, and simply being a pathogen creates a great economic impact. Most of these secondary metabolites are isolated from wild or cultivated plants because their chemical synthesis is either extremely difficult or economically infeasible. Plants and/or plant cells in vitro, show physiological and morphological responses to microbial, physical or chemical factors which are known as 'elicitors'. Elicitation is a process of induced or enhanced synthesis of secondary metabolites by the plants to ensure their survival, persistence and competitiveness. Here, we discuss the classification of Aspergillus niger as a biotic elicitors, for the production of secondary pharmaceutical metabolites from medicinal plants in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]