Development of a low-cost disposable bioreactor for pilot scale production of Hypericum perforatum L. adventitious roots

Abstract

Bioreactors are widely used for industrial production of therapeutic products. In this study, a disposable bubble column bioreactor made from flexible plastic films and cheap accessories was developed and its applicability for plant root culture was tested. Hypericum perforatum adventitious roots were cultivated in a set of 15, 30, and 60-L bioreactors for a four weeks period and 14.4, 11, and 10 g dry roots per liter were harvested respectively. Appropriate air flow pattern caused the roots to distribute to more than 70 % of the liquid culture volume without using any support matrix. The packing densities showed 30 % variation at different location of root biomass. Determination of hypericins, total phenols, and total flavonoids indicated some variation throughout the bioreactor, however, the average of them resembled the roots cultivated in flasks. Appropriate bioreactors remain an obstacle in commercialization of plant root cultures and the developed bioreactor seems appropriate for mass production of some adventitious and hairy roots in a modular design.