Scopolamine release into media by Duboisia leichhardtii hairy root clones

Summary The hairy root clones of Duboisia leichhardtii were found to release scopolamine into the medium. Among media examined, a modified Heller's medium that had 37 mm nitrate and no ammonium was suitable for scopolamine release. Scopolamine in the medium was efficiently recovered by the use of an Amberlite XAD-2 column. A reactor system consisting of a 2-1 airlift reactor and a 25-ml column packed with Amberlite XAD-2 was constructed for production of scopolamine by the culture of the hairy root clone. The culture medium was passed through the column and the eluent from the column was back into the reactor continuously by using a low-pressure pump. When the hairy root clone DL47-1 was cultured in the reactor, 245 mg/l of scopolamine was released into the medium during 6 weeks and 97% scopolamine in the medium was recovered by the column. The scopolamine production was about five times higher in the column-combined reactor than in the reactor without the column. Scopolamine was recovered as the hydrobromide salt with more than 90% purity. Correspondence to: T. Muranaka