Ginseng Adventitious Roots Research Articles

Influence of potassium nitrate on antioxidant level and secondary metabolite genes under cold stress in Panax ginseng

The overall survival mechanism and secondary metabolite synthesis under cold stress conditions (4°C) at exogenous supply with KNO3 were studied in mountain ginseng adventitious root cultures. Expressed sequence tags encoding antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and also ginsenoside-related secondary metabolites were obtained, and expression studies were carried out using quantitative real-time PCR. Chilled adventitious root cultures grown in vitro with or without an exogenous supply with K+ were differentially regulated. Expressions of PgCAT, PgAPX, and PgGPX-1 were increased, whereas PgGPX-2 and all ginsenoside-related secondary metabolite genes showed slight down-regulation upon chilling stress. Interestingly, the most genes were up-regulated at the increased potassium supply except the cytochrome P450 gene, which shows clearly the specific effect of potassium on the antioxidant level and secondary metabolite gene expression involved in the survival mechanism. In addition, we studied the activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, which showed similar pattern of changes. Adventitious root dry weight and relative water content were found to increase at 0.05 mM KNO3. The high level of potassium is needed for Panax ginseng under chilling conditions to increase its cold tolerance through activating the anti-oxidant system as well as to increase ginsenoside-related secondary metabolite transcripts.

Gradually scale-up culture in a bioreactor promotes radical scavenging activity of Panax ginseng (C. A. Meyer) adventitious roots on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

A scale-up culture of adventitious roots of ginseng was established using a balloon-type bubble bioreactor (BTBB). Maximum growth rates of ~52-fold and ~50-fold in 3 and 5 L BTBBs were obtained, respectively after 40 days of inoculation, which was significantly higher than that in 0.5 L conical flask (~15-fold). Gradually scale-up culture of adventitious roots increased the root biomass, while the contents of ginsenoside and polysaccharides were not affected. This study also revealed that radical scavenging activity of dried adventitious roots on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl was higher than that of native roots at 20–100 mg L−1 methanolic extract.

Ethyl Acetate Extract from Tissue-Cultured Mountain Ginseng Adventitious Roots Inhibits In Vitro Platelet Aggregation in Whole Human Blood and Augments Peripheral Blood Flow in Mice

We previously reported that in vitro anti-platelet activity of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng (TCMG) ethanol extracts show improved efficacy when compared with commercial ginseng products such as Korean red ginseng and Panax ginseng. However, information on the anti-platelet activity of the ethyl acetate fraction from TCMG adventitious roots is limited. Therefore, in this study, we further investigated the effects of an ethyl acetate extract of TCMG (EA-TCMG) adventitious roots on in vitro antiplatelet activity in whole human blood and its effect on peripheral blood flow in mice. We found that EA-TCMG inhibited platelet aggregation with IC50 values of 271, 180, and 147 μg/mL induced by collagen, adenosine-5΄-diphosphate, and arachidonic acid, respectively. Among the three agonists used, thromboxane A2 formation induced by arachidonic acid was markedly suppressed. Furthermore, EA-TCMG improved the peripheral circulatory disturbance by improving vascular blood flow. In conclusion, these results suggest that ethyl acetate extracts from TCMG adventitious roots might inhibit vascular platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

Regulation of tissue differentiation by plant growth regulators on tTCLs of Panax ginseng adventitious roots

Differentiated tissue in Panax ginseng cultures was found to be very efficacious for saponin production. In order to increase the yield of saponins and preserve culture stability we were testing different plant growth regulators (PGR) and auxin/cytokinin combinations to regulate a level of tissue differentiation. For this purpose we used transverse thin cell layers (tTCLs) of adventitious roots of Panax ginseng. Adventitious roots were cultivated in Shenk and Hildebrand (SH) liquid medium supplemented with IBA (24.6 μM). Callus formation and root multiplication of adventitious root tTCLs was evaluated after 4 and following 12 weeks of cultivation, respectively, on SH basal medium containing various auxins (3 mg l −1) or cytokinins (0.2 or 0.02 mg l −1) or their combinations. We found that kinetin (Kin) in combination with auxin benzo[b]selenienyl acetic acid (BSAA), naphthalene acetic acid or indole-3-butric acidis the best for biomass production and following root multiplication. These combinations were tested in previously selected most suitable large-scale system—a temporary immersion system RITA. The best saponin production (15.94 ± 1.89 mg g −1 dry weight) and growth value (5.62 ± 0.34) was reached on medium containing BSAA and Kin combination.

Evaluation of dietary wild-ginseng adventitious root meal on egg production, egg quality, hematological profiles and egg yolk fatty acid composition in laying hens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary wild-ginseng adventitious root meal on the egg production, egg quality, blood profiles and fatty acid contents of yolks in eggs produced by laying hens. A total of 240 ISA brown laying hens at 27weeks of age were used in this 5-week feeding trial. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) WGM1 (basal diet+1% wild ginseng adventitious root meal) and 3) WGM2 (basal diet+2% wild ginseng adventitious root meal). All birds were allotted to one of 3 treatments with 16 replications (5 hens per replication) in a completely randomized design. In this study, egg production was increased in WGM1 and WGM2 when compared to CON group (P<0.05). Birds fed WGM-supplemented diets had a higher lymphocyte (P<0.05) levels but lower (P<0.05) cholesterol and triglyceride concentration compared with those fed CON diet. In terms of the yolk fatty acid content, lower palmitic acid, stearic acid and saturated fatty acid contents and saturated fatty acid/unsaturated fatty acid ratios were noted in WGM1 and WGM2 groups, relative to CON group (P<0.05). The linoleic acid, eicosanoic acid, and unsaturated fatty acid contents in WGM groups were higher than those in CON group (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with wild ginseng adventitious root meal increased egg production, and reduced serum cholesterol concentrations in laying hens. The inclusion of ginseng adventitious root meal reduced SFA and increased the PUFA and PUFA:SFA ratio in egg yolk.

Salicylic Acid-induced Nitric Oxide and ROS Generation Stimulate Ginsenoside Accumulation in Panax ginseng Roots

We evaluated the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in salicylic acid (SA)-induced accumulation of gin- senoside in adventitious roots of Panax ginseng and its mediation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Related effects of SA on components of the antioxidant system were also sought. Adventitious roots of P. ginseng were grown in suspension culture for 3 weeks in MS medium and treated over 5 days with SA (100 lM) alone, SA in combination with the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5- tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), or PTIO alone. Nitric oxide, the superoxide anion (O2 - ), H2O2, nit- rite, nonprotein thiol, and ascorbate were monitored toge- ther with ginsenoside, NADPH oxidase activity, and several antioxidant enzymes. Salicylic acid did not inhibit root growth but induced accumulation of ginsenoside, lipid peroxidation, and generation of NO and O2 - . It also enhanced activities of NADPH oxidase, superoxide dis- mutase, catalase, and peroxidase, including ascorbate per- oxidase. These effects were suppressed by PTIO. Salicylic acid also decreased glutathione reductase activity. Inclu- sion of PTIO with SA decreased the activity of glutathione reductase further. Treatment with SA plus PTIO also decreased nonprotein thiol and ascorbate contents but

Influences of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on growth and secondary metabolite accumulation in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer adventitious roots cultured in air-lift bioreactors

The present study relates to different polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which were used as elicitors to enhance biomass accumulation and ginsenoside production in Panax ginseng. Adventitious root cultures of ginseng were elicited with oleic and linolenic acid at 0, 1, 5, 10 or 50µmol/l concentrations respectively. Elicitors were added to the medium of adventitious roots on the 40th day of culture and roots were harvested on day 47. Cultures supplemented with oleic acid decreased root biomass and ginsenoside accumulation. Cultures supplemented with 1µmol/l linolenic acid enhanced ginsenoside accumulation, without the decrease of adventitious root biomass. Linolenic acid enhanced the biosynthesis of both protopanxatriols (2.95±0.048mg/g DW) and protopanxadiols (5.66±0.043mg/g DW) compared to that of control at (1.41±0.002mg/g DW) and (1.58±0.006mg/g DW) respectively. No changes in polysaccharides and phenolics content have been noticed upon elicitation with PUFAs. This is the first report on linolenic acid as an elicitor for ginsenoside accumulation in ginseng adventitious root cultures.

Improvement of ginsenoside production by Panax ginseng adventitious roots induced by γ-irradiation

In order to evaluate effects of γ-rays on adventitious root formation and ginsenoside production, embryogenic calli induced from cotyledon explants of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer were treated with γ-rays of 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 Gy. The highest frequency of adventitious root formation of 75 % occurred at γ-irradiation of 30 Gy, which is considered adequate dosage for selecting mutant cell lines. Five mutated adventitious roots (MAR)3-lines out of the propagation of 142 adventitious root lines treated with 30 Gy were selected based a 100-fold increase in proliferation rate compared to control adventitious roots (CAR) and content of the seven major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1) was determined. In the CAR and four of the MAR3-lines (except for MAR3-109), the Rb/Rg ratio was greater than 1.0, thereby indicating altered ginsenoside composition in these root lines. The HPLC analysis of the MAR3-13 and MAR3-26 lines confirmed different ginsenoside profiles, including the three unidentified ginsenoside candidates, Gm1, Gm2, and Gm3. The ginsenosides of the MAR3-13 and MAR3-26 lines showed high hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities.

Linoleic and α-linolenic fatty acids affect biomass and secondary metabolite production and nutritive properties of Panax ginseng adventitious roots cultured in bioreactors

The effect of elicitation with linoleic (C18:2) and α-linolenic (C18:3) fatty acids (LLA and α-LNA) was investigated in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer adventitious roots cultured in 5 l balloon-type bioreactors. Fatty acids were added in culture medium at 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 μmol l −1 at day 40, at the end of exponential growth phase. Roots were harvested and assayed at day 47. Elicitation with both LLA and α-LNA enhanced accumulation of total polyphenolics and flavonoids in roots compared with control without elicitation. The highest accumulation of flavonoids was observed at 5.0 μmol l −1 for both elicitors. Total phenolics production reached its highest value of about 4.0 mg g −1 DW under the elicitation with 5.0 μmol l −1 LLA and 5.0–20.0 μmol l −1 α-LNA. Meanwhile, α-LNA was more effective than LLA for increasing biomass and ginsenoside production. The biomass of 11.1 g DW l −1 and maximal total ginsenoside content of 7.9 mg g −1 DW were achieved at 5 μmol l −1 α-linolenic acid. The essential polyunsaturated linoleic (C18:2) and α-linolenic (C18:3) fatty acids were accumulated in roots in response to elicitation while content of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1) acids declined. The activities of SOD, G-POD and CAT were enhanced by two elicitors to similar extent while APX activity was preferably stimulated by α-LNA. Our results demonstrate that elicitation with α-linolenic acid stimulates production of biomass and secondary metabolites in bioreactor-cultured P. ginseng adventitious roots.

게르마늄 함유 인삼 부정근의 생장 증대를 위한 액체배양 조건의 최적화

This study was carried out to determine the optimal submerged culture conditions for the growth increase of ginseng adventitious roots containing germanium by means of a fractional factorial design with four factors and three levels, using the response surface methodology (RSM). The ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) adventitious roots were induced by plant growth regulators and cultured in a liquid SH medium. The effects of various GeO₂ and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) concentrations in the medium, GeO₂ addition time and the pH of the medium on the fresh weight of the ginseng adventitious roots were investigated. The optimum pH of the medium and the phosphoric acid concentration determined by the partial differentiation of the model equation were 4.7 and 6.0 mM, respectively. The predicted optimal GeO₂ concentration was 10 ppm and the GeO₂ addition time did not affect the growth of ginseng adventitious roots. Under these conditions, the growth of the ginseng adventitious root containing germanium was predicted to be 2.47 g.

Cryopreservation of Panax ginseng Adventitious Roots

We tested desiccation and/or vitrification procedures to cryopreserve the adventitious roots of Panax ginseng, the source of commercially produced ginsenosides. When only desiccation was applied, the post-freeze survival of 3- to 4-mm root tips was <14% regardless of the composition of the preculture medium or the explant origin. Callus formation was frequently observed after cryopreservation. In contrast, 90% survival and 32.5% root formation efficiency were achieved after cryopreservation when a vitrification protocol was followed. Adventitious root cultures in flasks and bioreactors were reestablished from root tips cryopreserved by vitrification. A prolonged lag-phase and lower biomass production were recorded in post-freeze-regenerated cultures compared with control roots that were subcultured four times in flasks. However, biomass accumulations did not differ between control and regenerated roots at the end of the sixth subculturing period. After 40 days of culture in bioreactors, a mean value of 12.5 g dw L−1 was recorded for post-freeze-regenerated cultures versus 9.1 g dw L−1 for the control roots. Production of triol and diol ginsenosides in our bioreactor cultures also was enhanced after cryopreservation, by 41.0% and 89.8%, respectively. These results suggest that the vitrification method is successful for cryopreservation of P. ginseng adventitious roots.

Accumulation of ginsenosides and caffeic acid derivatives as affected by co-cultures of Panax ginseng and Echinacea purpurea adventitious roots

Accumulation of ginsenosides and caffeic acid derivatives as affected by co-cultures of Panax ginseng and Echinacea purpurea adventitious roots

산삼 부정근박 급여가 육성-비육돈의 생산성, 혈액성상 및 육질특성에 미치는 영향

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary wild-ginseng adventitious root meal on growth performance, blood characteristics and meat quality characteristics in growing-finishing pigs. Ninety six pigs[(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] with average initial body weight of 68.29±0.31kg were used in 70d growth trial. Dietary treatments included 1) CON(Basal diet), 2) WGR1(Basal diet+0.5% wild- ginseng adventitious root meal), 3) WGR2(Basal diet+1.0% wild-ginseng adventitious root meal) and 4) WGR3(Basal diet+1.5% wild-ginseng adventitious root meal). The pigs were allotted into four dietary treatments with six replicate pens and four pigs per pen in a completely randomized design. For the whole period, final body weight and ADG were increased in CON treatment compared to WGR3 treatment(Linear effect, P=0.005). In blood characteristics, red blood cell(RBC) was significantly increased in CON and WGR2 treatments compared to WGR1 treatment (Quadratic effect, P=0.019). WGR2 treatment resulted in higher white blood cell(WBC) than CON and WGR1 treatments(Linear effect, P=0.041). WBC difference was significantly improved in WGR2 treatment compared to other treatments (Linear effect, P=0.042). Total protein was increased in WGR2 treatment compared to CON treatment (Quadratic effect, P=0.011). In cholesterol concentration of blood, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantly different among treatments. In meet quality, pH in WGR1 treatment was higher than WGR3 treatment(Quadratic effect=0.022). Water holding capacity(WHC) was significantly increased in WGR2 treatment compared to WGR3 treatment(Quadratic effect, P=0.050).

Establishment of adventitious root co-culture of Ginseng and Echinacea for the production of secondary metabolites

We have successfully established the co-culture of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and echinacea [Echiancea purpurea (L.) Moench.] adventitious roots for the production secondary metabolites. Adventitious roots of ginseng and echinacea were cultured in different proportions (5 g L−1; 4:1, 3:2 and 2:1 ginseng and echinacea, respectively) in 5-L capacity airlift bioreactors containing 4 L Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 25 μM indole-3-butyric acid and 50 g sucrose L−1 and maintained at 25°C in the dark for 40 days. Results showed the negative effect of echinacea adventitious roots on the growth of ginseng roots, however, by limiting the inoculum density of echinacea, it was possible to establish the co-cultures. To enhance the accumulation of secondary metabolites, co-cultures were treated with 200 μM methyl jasmonate after 30 days of culture initiation. Methyl jasmonate elicitation promoted the accumulation of ginsenosides in the co-cultures. It was possible to produce ginsenosides and caffeic acid derivatives in higher amounts by establishing co-cultures with higher inoculum proportion of ginseng to echinacea (4:1 and 3:2) followed by elicitation treatment. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of interspecies adventitious root co-cultures for the production of plant secondary metabolites.

Temporal changes in the growth, saponin content and antioxidant defense in the adventitious roots of Panax ginseng subjected to nitric oxide elicitation

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diffusible, gaseous signaling molecule. In plants, NO influences growth and development, and it can also affect plant responses to various stresses. Because NO induces root differentiation and interacts with reactive oxygen species, we examined the temporal effect of NO elicitation on root growth, saponin accumulation and antioxidant defense responses in the adventitious roots of mountain ginseng (Panax ginseng). The observations revealed that NO is involved in root growth and saponin production. Elicitation with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) activated O2−-generating NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity, which most probably subsequently enhanced growth of adventitious roots of mountain ginseng. A severe inhibition of NOX activity and decline in dry weight of SNP elicited adventitious roots in the presence of NOX inhibitor (diphenyl iodonium, DPI), which further supports involvement of NOX in root growth. Enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes by SNP appear to be responsible for low H2O2, less lipid peroxidation, and modulation of ascorbate and non-protein thiol statuses in the adventitious roots of mountain ginseng. Dry mass, saponin content and NOX activity was related with NO content present in adventitious roots of mountain ginseng.

킬레이트제가 액체배양 중 인삼 부정근의 게르마늄 축적에 미치는 영향

식물조직배양기술을 이용한 Ge 함유 인삼 부정근 생산 시 Ge의 생산성을 향상시키고자, 다양한 킬레이트제가 인삼 부정근의 Ge 축적과 사포닌 형성 및 생육에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. <TEX>$GeO_2$</TEX> 50ppm과 함께 citric acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, EDTA 및 EGTA와 같은 킬레이트제를 인삼 부정근 배양시 첨가하여 Ge 흡수에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과, phosphoric acid, EDTA 및 EGTA가 Ge 흡수를 촉진시킨다는 사실을 알 수 있었다. 그러나, EDTA와 EGTA는 인삼부정근의 생육을 억제시킬 뿐만 아니라 Ge 흡수 촉진 효과도 phosphoric acid에 비해 낮으므로 인삼 부정근의 Ge 흡수를 촉진하는데 가장 효과적인 킬레이트제는 phosphoric acid인 것으로 확인되었다. 인삼 부정근의 Ge 흡수 촉진을 위한 phosphoric acid의 최적 농도는 1.0 mM이었고, 이때의 Ge 함량은<TEX>$22.7{\pm}0.3$</TEX> mg%로 대조구<TEX>$(16.8{\pm}0.7$</TEX> mg%)의 1.4배에 해당하는 양이다. 한편, 인삼 부정근의 생장률과 총 사포닌 함량은 phosphoric acid의 농도가 증가할수록 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. In order to increase the content of germanium in ginseng adventitious roots, the effects of chelating agents on germanium content and root growth were investigated in the submerged cultures of ginseng adventitious roots. Chelating agents such as citric acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, EDTA (Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) or EGTA (Ethylene glycol-bis <TEX>$({\beta}-aminoethylether)-tetraacetic$</TEX> acid) were administrated in the submerged culture of ginseng root containing 50 ppm <TEX>$GeO_2$</TEX>. After 6 weeks of cultivation, fresh weight, germanium and saponin contents in the roots were analyzed. Among chelating agents, addition of 1.0mM phosphoric acid was found to be best for germanium accumulation. Under this condition, germanium content increased 1.4 times as compared to that of the control. The germanium content in the adventitious roots also increased with addition of EDTA or EGTA, while they inhibited the growth of ginseng adventitious root. Citric and oxalic acids were not effective for increasing germanium content in adventitious roots. As the results, it suggests that the phosphoric acid can be proved as the optimal agent for the enhancement of germanium accumulation in ginseng adventitious roots. These results can be served as a guideline for the mass production of ginseng adventitious roots containing germanium by large-scale production.

Modulation of copper toxicity-induced oxidative damage by nitric oxide supply in the adventitious roots of Panax ginseng

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive, membrane-permeable free radical, which has recently emerged as an important signalling molecule and antioxidant. Here we investigated the protective effect of NO against the toxicity caused by excess CuSO(4) (50 microM) in the adventitious roots of mountain ginseng. It was found that NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was effective in reducing Cu-induced toxicity in the mountain ginseng adventitious roots. Protective effect of SNP, as indicated by extent of lipid peroxidation, was reversed by incorporation of 2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (CPTIO), a NO scavenger, in the medium suggesting that the protective effect of SNP is attributable to NO released, which was revealed from in situ confocal laser scanning microscopic localization of NO in the adventitious roots of mountain ginseng. Results obtained in the present study suggest that reduction of excess Cu-induced toxicity by SNP is most likely mediated through the modulation in the activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in H(2)O(2) detoxification (catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase) and in the maintenance of cellular redox couples (glutathione reductase), and contents of molecular antioxidants (particularly non-protein thiol, ascorbate and its redox status). Exogenous NO supply also improved the activity of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme responsible for O*(2) (-) dismutation, and NADPH oxidase, an enzyme responsible for O*(2) (-) generation, in excess Cu supplied adventitious roots of mountain ginseng.

Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid induced oxidative stress and accumulation of phenolics in Panax ginseng bioreactor root suspension cultures.

To investigate the enzyme variations responsible for the synthesis of phenolics, 40 day-old adventitious roots of Panax ginseng were treated with 200 microM methyl jasmonate (MJ) or salicylic acid (SA) in a 5 L bioreactor suspension culture (working volume 4 L). Both treatments caused an increase in the carbonyl and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, although the levels were lower in SA treated roots. Total phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, non-protein thiol (NPSH) and cysteine contents and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical reducing activity were increased by MJ and SA. Fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) decreased significantly after 9 days of exposure to SA and MJ. The highest total phenolics (62%), DPPH activity (40%), flavonoids (88%), ascorbic acid (55%), NPSH (33%), and cysteine (62%) contents compared to control were obtained after 9 days in SA treated roots. The activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, substrate specific peroxidases (caffeic acid peroxidase, quercetin peroxidase and ferulic acid peroxidase) were higher in MJ treated roots than the SA treated ones. Increased shikimate dehydrogenase, chlorogenic acid peroxidase and beta-glucosidase activities and proline content were observed in SA treated roots than in MJ ones. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity remained unaffected by both MJ and SA. These results strongly indicate that MJ and SA induce the accumulation of phenolic compounds in ginseng root by altering the phenolic synthesis enzymes.

Enhanced Ginsenoside Productivity by Combination of Ethephon and Methyl Jasmoante in Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) Adventitious Root Cultures

Ethephon at 50 microM enhanced both root growth and ginsenoside accumulation in ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) adventitious root cultures, but at 100 microM it inhibited only ginsenoside accumulation. Ginsenoside productivity with 50 microM ethephon was the highest at 1.7 mg l(-1) d(-1) after 8 days of elicitation. However, elicitation with 50 microM ethephon and 100 microM methyl jasmonate (MJ) improved productivity (6.3 mg l(-1) d(-1)) whereas elicitation with 100 microM MJ alone gave only 2.9 mg l(-1) d(-1).

Enhanced production of bioactive ginsenosides from adventitious roots of Panax ginseng in bioreactor culture

SummaryPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer roots are highly prized in international markets for their medicinal properties. The present study focussed on the enhanced production of the bioactive anti-cancer protopanaxatriol group of ginsenosides in adventitious roots of P. ginseng in bioreactor cultures by feeding the biogenetic precursor, squalene. HPLC-MS analysis of the saponin fraction indicated higher accumulation of the protopanaxatriol group of ginsenosides (Rg1 0.96 mg g–1,Rg2 0.09 mg g–1 and Re 1.91 mg g–1 DW) in 40 d-old squalene-fed adventitious roots compared to controls. The results allow predictions of the biosynthetic pathway from squalene to ginsenosides in adventitious roots.