Method for producing metabolites from plants cultivated in soil-less medium

1. A method of producing molecules from plants with top growth and root growth, comprising the steps of:

cultivating said plants in soil-less and non-sterile conditions;

feeding said plants with a nutrient solution and/or spraying said plants with a leaching liquid;

recovering and treating said solution and/or said liquid to extract therefrom secondary metabolites liberated by roots and/or top growth of said plants, said metabolites being selected from the group consisting of tropane and indole type alkaloids, anti-cancer agents, taxanes or taxol derivatives, furocoumarins, terpenes, glycosides, phenyl propanoids, saponines and steroids;

recovering said extracted metabolites;

forcing permeabilization of said roots or top growth with a permeabilizing solution containing salts, surfactants, detergents, solvents, elicitors or fungal or bacterial origin, derivatives of jasmonic acid or other products which stimulate the natural defenses of plants; and

repeating said steps of forcing permeablization, recovering and treating said solution and/or liquid to extract metabolites, and recovering said extracted metabolites until a desired amount of metabolites have been recovered from said plants, wherein,

said forcing permeabilization step is carried out continuously by adding said permeabilizing solution to said nutrient solution supplied continuously or at regular intervals to said plants such that flows issuing from said roots and/or top growth, toward and into spent nutrient solution and/or charged leaching liquid contain said metabolites and are significantly increased without loss of viability of said plants,

said forcing permeabilization step does not lead, even partially, to the destruction of said plants, and

said plants are genetically modified to produce more metabolites or to increase root biomass following genetic transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

initiating plant cultivation in soil-less conditions to allow growth and development of said plants;

recovering said metabolites liberated by said roots or top growth using a liquid which is brought into contact with said roots by percolation or immersion or with leaves of said plants by spraying;

collecting spent or charged solution in percolated form from said roots or leached form from said leaves;

isolating desired metabolites contained in said collected solution by liquid/liquid or liquid/solid extraction, recrystallization, sublimation or evaporation of water.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

rinsing of said roots and/or top growth of said plants after forcing permeabilization; and

returning said rinsed plants to growth conditions for a time which is just sufficient for carrying out a further forced permeabilization treatment, followed or accompanied by a step of recovering said metabolites.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

increasing the biosynthesis capacities of said plants and potential to release metabolites in the solution by a physical treatment selected from the group consisting of a rise in temperature, additional or extended irradiation with light, an increase in the CO 2 content in the atmosphere in contact with said plant and combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein,

production and excretion of said metabolites synthesized by said plants are increased by neosynthesis of said metabolites after addition of metabolite precursors, and

said precursors are added to said plants by including said precursors in said nutritional solution added in the region of said roots or said precursors are sprayed onto said top growth in a mixture with surfactants to obtain foliar penetration.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, production and excretion of said metabolites are increased by forcing photosynthetic activity by exposing said plants to artificial lighting for a period longer than that to which said plants are accustomed.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein,

said metabolites are obtained from said top growth by showering or spraying said plants with a solution or liquid containing surfactants, surface-active agents and/or detergents, and

charged showering or spraying solution is recovered separately or in a mixture with said nutrient solution for extraction and purification of said metabolites.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, said plants are higher or vascular plants adapted to synthesize metabolites.

9. A method of producing molecules from plants with top growth and root growth, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of containers ( 2 ) for the soil-less culture of plants ( 1 );

providing a device for the storage and contribution of nutrient solution ( 3 ) for said plants ( 1 ), comprising a reservoir ( 13 ) and a distribution line ( 13 ′) associated with a network of conduits ( 13 ″) carrying said solution ( 3 ) in a controlled manner to the base of said plants ( 1 );

providing a distribution device for permeabilization solution and/or leaching liquid comprising a reservoir for mixing and storage ( 14 ) of the permeabilization solution and/or a reservoir ( 14 ′) for the leaching liquid, associated with lines for distribution ( 14 ″) by spraying and/or injection;

providing an assembly of means ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 16 ) for recovery, treatment and recycling at least of spent nutrient solution ( 3 ′), said means for recovery, treatment and recycling consisting of an intermediate storage tank ( 15 ) collecting spent nutrient solution ( 3 ′) discharged by drainage of said containers ( 2 ) and connected by a direct recycling line ( 15 ′) and by a second recycling line ( 15 ″) comprising a unit ( 16 ) for separation or extraction in a loop for reinjection into said storage reservoir ( 13 ) of nutrient solution ( 3 ), said unit ( 16 ) extracting said metabolites contained in said spent nutrient solution ( 3 ′) and liberated by said roots and/or top growth of said plants ( 1 );

cultivating said plants in soil-less and non-sterile conditions;

feeding said plants with a nutrient solution and/or spraying said plants with a leaching liquid;

recovering and treating said solution and/or said liquid to extract therefrom secondary metabolites liberated by roots and/or top growth of said plants, said metabolites being selected from the group consisting of tropane and indole type alkaloids, anti-cancer agents, taxanes or taxol derivatives, furocoumarins, terpenes, glycosides, phenyl propanoids, saponines and steroids;

recovering said extracted metabolites;

forcing permeabilization of said roots or top growth with a permeabilizing solution containing salts, surfactants, detergents, solvents, elicitors or fungal or bacterial origin, derivatives of jasmonic acid or other products which stimulate the natural defenses of plants; and

repeating said steps of forcing permeablization, recovering and treating said solution and/or liquid to extract metabolites, and recovering said extracted metabolites until a desired amount of metabolites have been recovered from said plants, wherein,

said forcing permeabilization step is carried out continuously by adding said permeabilizing solution to said nutrient solution supplied continuously or at regular intervals to said plants such that flows issuing from said roots and/or top growth toward and into spent nutrient solution and/or charged leaching liquid contain said metabolites and are significantly increased without loss of viability of said plants,

said forcing permeabilization step does not lead, even partially, to the destruction of said plants.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:

supplying said reservoir ( 13 ) by an injection line ( 13 ′″) for additional nutrient substances stored in suitable reservoirs ( 13 ″″), so as to compensate for quantities of such substances removed by said plants ( 1 ′).

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

initiating plant cultivation in soil-less conditions to allow growth and development of said plants;

recovering said metabolites liberated by said roots or top growth using a liquid which is brought into contact with said roots by percolation or immersion or with leaves of said plants by spraying;

collecting spent or charged solution in percolated form from said roots or leached form from said leaves;

isolating desired metabolites contained in said collected solution by liquid/liquid or liquid/solid extraction, recrystallization, sublimation or evaporation of water.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

rinsing of said roots and/or top growth of said plants after forcing permeabilization; and

returning said rinsed plants to growth conditions for a time which is just sufficient for carrying out a further forced permeabilization treatment, followed or accompanied by a step of recovering said metabolites.

13. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:

increasing the biosynthesis capacities of said plants and potential to release metabolites in the solution by a physical treatment selected from the group consisting of a rise in temperature, additional or extended irradiation with light, an increase in the CO 2 content in the atmosphere in contact with said plant and combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein,

production and excretion of said metabolites synthesized by said plants are increased by neosynthesis of said metabolites after addition of metabolite precursors, and

said precursors are added to said plants by including said precursors in said nutritional solution added in the region of said roots or said precursors are sprayed onto said top growth in a mixture with surfactants to obtain foliar penetration.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein, production and excretion of said metabolites are increased by forcing photosynthetic activity by exposing said plants to artificial lighting for a period longer than that to which said plants are accustomed.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein,

said metabolites are obtained from said top growth by showering or spraying said plants with a solution or liquid containing surfactants, surface-active agents and/or detergents, and

charged showering or spraying solution is recovered separately or in a mixture with said nutrient solution for extraction and purification of said metabolites.

17. The method according to claim 9 , wherein, said plants are higher or vascular plants adapted to synthesize metabolites.