Adventitious root culture of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen in a roller bottle system: An alternative source of β-ecdysone

Abstract

• β-ecdysone was obtained from an in vitro cultured of Pfaffia glomerata. • The roller bottle system was favourable to the adventitious root of P. glomerata . • Presence of β-ecdysone in culture of P. glomerata means adaptation to the system. • Highest accumulation of β-ecdysone occurred after 8 weeks in a roller bottle system. β-ecdysone is the main compound of commercial interest produced by the roots of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, and is used in herbal medicines and dietary supplements. In-vitro root culture facilitates the continuous production of high-quality compounds, and uses sustainable production techniques. Adventitious roots of P. glomerata were cultivated in a roller bottle system and an orbital gyratory system, both in the absence of light. The quantification of β-ecdysone by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) revealed that the highest accumulation of metabolites occurred after 8 weeks in the roller bottle culture system, wherein 1.81 μg of β-ecdysone was recovered from 30 mg of dry root. These results suggest that adventitious root culture in-vitro may be an alternative strategy for β-ecdysone production, and demonstrates the potential use of bioreactors for practical applications.