Understandings of bioactive composition, molecular regulation, and biotechnological interventions in the development and usage of specialized metabolites as health-promoting substances in Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey

In the era of global health consciousness, the demand for non-saccharides or zero-calorie natural sweeteners has consequently increased day by day. Siraitia grosvenorii, luohan guo, or monk fruit is well known for its zero caloric natural sweetener cucurbitane triterpene glycosides compounds. The mogroside V (300 times sweeter than sucrose) is the major specialized metabolite and comprises more than 30 % of the total sweetener compounds in its fruit pulp. Moreover, S. grosvenorii is also approved as a medicine food homology (MFH) plant because of its both nutritional and medicinal properties. In recent years, cutting-edge progress in plant biology, biotechnology, transcriptomics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutics has allowed unprecedented insights into biosynthesis and regulation mechanisms of health-promoting compounds of S. grosvenorii. This review includes comprehensive information about the biosynthetic pathway, plant cell/tissue culture, molecular mechanism, phytochemistry, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties of specialized metabolites of S. grosvenorii. Also, biotechnological interventions to produce alternative specialized metabolites and development strategies for the future of S. grosvenorii have also been discussed.