Received 11 June 2023; Revised 11 September 2023; Accepted 29 September 2023 Bioproducts from the microbial metabolization of terpenes SHORT COMMUNICATION Ana Flávia Seraine Custódio Viana and Boris Timah Acha Medicinal Plants Research Center, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil This paper explores the potential of microbial biotransformation as a sustainable and cost-effective method for generating valuable bioproducts from terpenes, essential components of many plant-derived oils. Terpenes and terpenoids, comprising a diverse group of organic compounds, exhibit various pharmacological activities with applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food industries. Traditional chemical extraction methods for obtaining terpenes are often expensive and environmentally unsustainable. In contrast, microbial biotransformation offers an attractive alternative by utilizing biological catalysts to produce complex terpenoid compounds, which are often more biologically active and less toxic. The paper discusses the enzymatic pathways involved in terpene biosynthesis and highlights recent advancements in microbial biotransformation techniques. Additionally, the paper discusses the potential of recombinant microorganism strains in large-scale production of bioactive terpenes, addressing challenges associated with traditional extraction methods. Overall, this paper underscores the significance of microbial biotransformation in unlocking the therapeutic potential of terpenes and terpenoids, paving the way for the development of novel bioproducts with enhanced pharmacological activities and reduced environmental impact. ABSTRACT Terpenes; Terpenoids; Microbial biotransformation; Pharmacological activity; Sustainable production; Bioproducts KEYWORDS ARTICLE HISTORY © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Reseapro Journals. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. *Correspondence: Dr. Ana Flávia Seraine Custódio Viana, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil, e-mail: flavia_seraine@hotmail.com Essential oils are highly concentrated hydrophobic mixtures of aromatic volatile substances derived from plants, which also contain more than 300 organic compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenes. ey are widely used as flavoring agents by the cosmetic and food industries, respectively. e growing interest of the pharmaceutical industry in essential oils has stimulated pharmacological research in these chemicals that have already demonstrated relevant therapeutic properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anthelmintic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, larvicidal, immunomodulatory, antinociceptive, and anti-ulcer activities [1]. Some chemical components of essential oils, such as terpenes and terpenoids, which are organic compounds, have been constantly investigated and have shown various pharmacological effects. But what is the difference between terpenes and terpenoids? Terpenes are a large group of compounds with simple hydrocarbons. e isoprene unit, a five-carbon branched chain, gives rise to the different types of terpenes, which include hemiterpenes, (C10) monoterpenes, (C15) sesquiterpenes, (C20) diterpenes, (C30) triterpenes, and (C40) tetraterpenes. Monoterpenes are the most predominant constituents of essential oils. Examples of bioactive monoterpenes are limonene, myrcene, ocimene, menthane, and α-phellandrene, etc. Terpenoids are classified as alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers, epoxides, ketones, and phenols because they have an oxygen molecule in their structure. Examples of bioactive terpenoids include carvacrol, linalool, linalyl acetate, menthol, thymol, and myrtenol. Terpenes and terpenoids are produced naturally by the mevalonic acid pathway in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells or by the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in the cytoplasm of eubacteria [2]. Chemical methods to extract large amounts of terpenes from essential oils are considered expensive because of the need for structured chemical laboratories with High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus to isolate and purify these products. In addition, an exorbitant amount of plant material is required to obtain a good amount of essential oil and its constituents. is implies the risk of extinguishing the plant or species, as it occurred when paclitaxel (a chemotherapeutic agent) was extracted from the yew plant (Taxus baccata). Due to the difficulty in obtaining significant quantities of taxol, it was necessary to collect many barks of this plant species, which was used in an unsustainable way, and now it is at risk of extinction in the Pacific [3]. In recent years, the pharmaceutical and chemical industry has recognized biotransformation as an important alternative, where biological catalysts facilitate or even make possible the production of complex by-products, such as terpenoids. Biotransformers make the reaction more specific and eliminate the need for purification that is required in chemical extraction methods. In addition, the use of microbial cells, for example, filamentous fungi, as biotransforming agents is easier and cheaper than using purified enzymes [4]. us, biotransformation is considered an economical and ecologically viable technology. Some studies have shown that the biotransformation of bioactive substances generates more biologically active products with reduced toxicity, such as cyclic monoterpenes with antimicrobial potential. Aſter biotransformation, the bioproducts have low molecular weight and more potent antimicrobial activity. Monoterpenes with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity are valuable raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. However, large-scale production of these compounds is very costly [5]. Currently, biotechnology has JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS 2023, VOL. 1, ISSUE 1, pp. 1-2 https://doi.org/10.61577/jpri.2023.100001