Development of a Commercial Production Method for Shikimic Acid from Native Plants

APPROACH: Experiments will be conducted at the pilot extraction facility of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops. Method development will involve investigating plant material selection, plant cultivation, harvesting methods, and the development of extraction and purification protocols. Initial development will be based on previous extraction and purification methods developed in our laboratory. Extraction and purification procedures and equipment will be selected based on simplicity, effectiveness, economic factors (equipment cost and energy efficiency), and environmental risk.

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PROGRESS: 2006/10 TO 2007/09<BR>
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) <BR>
The objective of this cooperative research is to develop a simple, cost- effective, and environmentally friendly method for commercial production of shikimic acid (purity: >95%) from the source plant. Shikimic acid is the raw material used to manufacture the anti-influenza drug oseltamivir. <BR><BR>

Approach (from AD-416) <BR>
Experiments will be conducted at the pilot extraction facility of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops. Method development will involve investigating plant material selection, plant cultivation, harvesting methods, and the development of extraction and purification protocols. Initial development will be based on previous extraction and purification methods developed in our laboratory. Extraction and purification procedures and equipment will be selected based on simplicity, effectiveness, economic factors (equipment cost and energy efficiency), and environmental risk. <BR>
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Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations<BR>
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the Stephen F. Austin University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the Avian Influenza Supplemental CRIS (6612-32000-051-00X), Development and Validation of Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, and parent CRIS (6612-32000-048-00D), Application of Biological and Molecular Techniques to the Diagnosis and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Emerging Poultry Pathogens. The pharmaceutical compound oseltamivir phosphate is the most effective treatment for human infections of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. However, the major limiting factor in manufacturing of adequate supplies of oseltamivir is the availability of the raw materials, shikimic acid, which is obtained from fruit of the Chinese star anise (Illicium verum). This project investigates common native plants (e.g., sweetgum and southern yellow pines) in North America as potential new high-yield sources of shikimic acid. <BR><BR>

During FY2007, the following was accomplished: 1) identification of 11 genera of native plants with shikimic acid production in east Texas, 2) one woody plant species contains up to 13% shikimic acid and is a potential commercial source of the raw material, 3) seasonal and geographical variation of shikimic acid content was determined for native plant species; and 4) strategies were developed to induce shikimic acid production by chemical and physical treatments. These native plant sources will be examined in commercial extraction and purification method for shikimic acid. <BR>
MONITORING: The ADODR has had email and telephone conversations with the cooperator at Stephen F. Austin University on research progress. There has been one face-to-face meeting in Athens, Georgia.