Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of salidroside from Rhodiola genus plants

Salidroside is a precious phenylethanoid glycoside derived from Rhodiola genus plants, which possesses a broad spectrum of biological properties for application in the cosmetic, medical and food fields. As the supply of salidroside is severely subject to the natural Rhodiola sources, sustainable production of salidroside with more economical and effective approaches has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this review, the biosynthesis pathways and enzymes involved in salidroside production in plants were elucidated in depth. Furthermore, efforts towards enhancement of salidroside production, including cell and tissue culture, enzymatic catalysis, metabolic engineering of micro-organisms were introduced comprehensively. Lastly, the strategies for product development of salidroside are presented with discussions on future prospects for the biosynthesis of salidroside. Given that there is still a certain distance between the current microbial productivity and industrialization requirement, more wisdom is in demand for dynamic regulation of cell growth and product accumulation, specific adsorption of the target compound as well as utilization of more economical carbon sources, so as to boost industrialization of salidroside via microbial fermentation.