VF research sheds light on producing medicinal compounds

Added on 11 March 2025

Tags

VF research sheds light on producing medicinal compounds

Doctoral student Rebekah Maynard observes the developmental stage of chamomile inflorescences in a vertical farming chamber. Credit: Katie Walker, University of Georgia

New research on using controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to grow plants with medicinal properties could lead to production methods that will increase one anti-cancer compound naturally produced by certain species of plants.

The study, led by doctoral student Rebekah Maynard, was designed to identify crops to be used in medical treatments and to develop strategies to increase the concentration of an anti-cancer compound produced by the plants.

Using controlled environment agriculture to grow medicinal plants

Working with Rhuanito Ferrarezi, associate professor of CEA crop physiology, Maynard grew compact crops with a short life cycle—chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum)—in a vertical farming environment. The researchers measured the plants' production of apigenin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound with promising anti-cancer effects.