The Effective Production of Shikonin by Cultures with an Increased Cell Population

We have studied the efficient production of shikonin derivatives by suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon with an increased cell population. The yield of shikonin derivatives was highest (800 mg/liter) when 2.8 g dry wt/liter of the cells was inoculated into the M-2 medium which we had developed for the production, but the excess inoculum lowered the yield.

We investigated suitable conditions for production with the increased cell population. The optimum amount of inoculum rose to 4.9 g dry wt/liter when the concentrations of all the components contained in the M-8 medium, which we developed for increasing the productivity by modification of the M-2 medium, were increased in proportion to the amount of inoculum, and consequently we could increase the yield of the shikonin derivatives from 1400 mg/liter to 1900 mg/liter. Moreover, the increased rate of oxygen supply in addition to the enrichment of the medium made it possible to produce 2300 mg/liter of the shikonin derivatives from a culture for which 5.6 g dry wt/liter of the cells was inoculated.     

pH值、激素对新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞生长及紫草宁衍生物合成的影响

报道了不同ｐＨ值、激素对新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞生长及紫草宁衍生物合成的影响。结果表明,新疆紫草细胞具有自我调节其培养液ｐＨ值的功能。适合于细胞生长及紫草宁衍生物形成的ｐＨ值为５．６±０．４０。ＢＡＰ、２,４－Ｄ、ＮＡＡ或ＩＢＡ对细胞生长无显著的促进作用,且都会抑制紫草宁衍生物的形成。在生长培养基中添加１．０ｍｇ／ｌ　ＩＡＡ和０．５ｍｇ／ｌＫＴ可促进细胞生长,而在生产培养基中附加０．１ｍｇ／ｌＫＴ和０．７５─１．０ｍｇ／ｌＩＡＡ则有利于紫草宁衍生物含量及产量的提高。     

软紫草愈伤组织的初步培养

外植体来源不同的软紫草愈伤组织产生紫草色素的能力各异。６０Ｃｏ－ｒ射线辐照处理后的Ｈ２无性系愈伤组织生长量和色素产生均属上乘。改良ＭＳ基本培养基添加１毫克／升ＫＴ,０．５毫克／升ＩＡＡ,５％（Ｗ／Ｖ）蔗糖对愈伤组织培养较为适宜。马铃薯提取液对愈伤组织生长有明显的促进作用。     

Enzyme activity and shikonin production in Lithospermum erythrorhizon cell cultures

The activities of the biosynthetic enzmes phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-reductase (HMGR) were measured in cells transferred from growth to production medium in a two-stage batch culture. It was found that both these enzymes showed transient increases, PAL (three- to fourfold) and HMGR (two- to four-fold), at or near the point of exhaustion of nitrogen source (NO(3)). Production of shikonin derivatives also started at this time. The addition of excess nitrate to the medium shortly before nitrate exhaustion (days 6-8) markedly reduced the final product yield (by 70-80%) while addition of excess nitrate in the later stationary growth phase (days 14-16) had no significant effect. When the production rate of shikonin derivatives was correlated with PAL activity, it was observed that production rate is very low (less than 1 mg/L . day) at low levels of PAL activity (below 0.1 unit/mg protein). Once a threshold level of PAL activity (about 0.15 unit/mg protein) is reached, the biosynthetic rate of shikonin derivatives increases. Such a relationship could not be deduced for HMGR activity. It was concluded that the production of shikonin derivatives may be limited at the phenylalanine deaminating step at low levels of PAL activity.     

Bioprocess engineering of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echium italicum</Emphasis> L.: induction of shikonin and alkannin derivatives by two-liquid-phase suspension cultures

An in vitro cell suspension culture of Echium italicum was established and assayed for the production of shikonin and alkannin derivatives. Callus tissues were induced from cotyledon explants of the plant incubated onto the solidified B5 medium. A two-liquid-phase system suspension culture was then established to elicit pigments of shikonin and alkannin derivatives using liquid paraffin. The presence of liquid paraffin efficiently induced production of pigments in cultured cells. The production and/or accumulation of these compounds in the E. italicum cells was examined using fluorescence microscopy as the naphthoquinone molecules display autofluorescent properties. Phytochemical analysis of the n-hexane extract of the medium was also carried out using preparative HPLC. The chemical structure of shikonin and alkannin derivatives were characterized by UV, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR techniques. Based on our findings, this bioprocess engineering approach resulted in induction of shikonin and alkannin derivatives, whereupon it may be recruited for production of these important secondary metabolites.     

Shikonin derivative formation on the stem of cultured shoots in Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Lithospermum erythrorhizon , which are capable of producing red pigments, have been established. The red pigments were formed on the stems of L. erythrorhizon shoots cultured both on solid and in liquid media without phytohormones at 25 °C in the dark. Thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and ¹ H nuclear magnetic resonance analyses revealed that the red pigments which accumulated on the cultured shoots were shikonin derivatives. The effects of various basal media and phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and kinetin) on the growth and the formation of shikonin derivatives were investigated. When the shoots were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium, the addition of kinetin remarkably enhanced shikonin derivative accumulation in the shoots. However, these effects of kinetin were not observed in the liquid culture when cultured in Gamborg B5 medium. The maximum content of shikonin derivatives (2.3% as dry weight, ca. 1.5 mg/100 ml flask) was observed in the shoots cultured in phytohormone-free B5 liquid medium for 5 weeks. Received: 1 February 2000 / Revision received: 23 March 2000 / Accepted: 28 March 2000     

新疆紫草细胞生产阶段培养中细胞生长及产物合成的研究Ⅱ:发酵培养

用内循环气升式反应器进行新疆紫草细胞生产阶段培养,当培养基浓度增加时,色素产率也随之提高,其数量及增长的幅度远大于悬浮培养。当接种量为180gFW／1,培养基为3倍的M9时能获得最大的色素产率：2．28g／l,是培养基非加倍时的5．4倍,太高的接种量不利于色素的合成。为降低成本而减少培养基中某些成份的用量时,要得到较高的色素产量,需同时调整其它成份的浓度。     

Effects of Rare Earth Elements on the Growth of Arnebia euchroma Cells and the Biosynthesis of Shikonin

Nd³⁺, La³⁺ and Ce³⁺ at proper concentrations had positive effects on the cell growth of Arnebia euchroma and production of shikonin derivatives. A mixture of rare earth elements (MRE, La₂O₃:CeO₂:Pr₆O₁₁: Sm₂O₃ = 255:175:3:1, mol/mol) behaved the most remarkable effects. Two-stage culture was used for the cell proliferation and the biosynthesis of shikonin derivatives. After 20 days culture, 0.05 mM MRE gave the highest cell biomass (24.8 g dry weight l⁻¹), which was 98.0% higher than that without rare earth elements. Similarly, when 0.05 mM MRE was added to the biosynthesis medium, the highest content (8.9% dry weight) and production (571.1 mg l⁻¹) of shikonin derivatives were obtained, which were 89.4% and 165.3% higher than those without rare earth elements, respectively. The increase of the cell biomass and shikonin derivatives may due to increasing the activities of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase caused by the addition of the rare earth elements.     

Effect of growth hormone modifications on shikonin production fromLithospermum erythrorhizon cell cultures within situ extraction

Summary The effect of growth hormone modifications on shikonin production was studied with the cell cultures ofLithospermum erythrorhizon. The cells grown in SH–H or SHA medium were effective for shikonin production in M–9 medium and maximum shikonin concentrations reached 43 and 63 mg/L, respectively, within situ extraction. In the case of the cells grown in SHA medium, induction time required for shikonin production was very short and the maximum shikonin concentration was obtained within 6 days.     

Physico-chemical factors influencing the shikonin derivatives production in cell suspension cultures of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnston, a medicinally important plant species

Cell suspension cultures of Arnebia euchroma were raised from in vitro leaf-derived friable callus on liquid MS [Murashige and Skoog] medium supplemented with BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) (10.0 μM) and IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) (5.0 μM). A two-stage culture system was employed using growth and production medium for cell biomass and shikonin derivatives, respectively. Factors such as light, temperature, sucrose and pH (hydrogen ion concentration) were studied to observe their effect on the shikonin derivative production. Light conditions completely inhibited shikonin derivative production. Out of different temperature regimes tested, the highest yield (586.17 μg/g FW) was found at 25°C. Maximum production (656.14 μg/g FW) was observed in 6% sucrose. An alkaline pH (7.25-9.50) favoured shikonin derivative production. The results showed that physical and chemical factors greatly influence the production of shikonin derivatives in cell suspension cultures of A. euchroma. Therefore, by employing optimum culture conditions, it is possible to enhance the production of secondary compounds from the cells. The factors optimized for in vitro production of shikonin derivatives during the present study can successfully be employed for their large-scale production in bioreactors.     

固定化培养和产物释放促进剂对硬紫草细胞代谢的影响

固定化培养的硬紫草细胞生长缓慢,仅包埋球外层的细胞生长明显。其蛋白质合成的量也低。培养３０ｄ的细胞色素产量达到４．２ｍｇ／ｇＦＷ,相对色素分泌量达到７０％,而色素的组成成分及各组分的比例也与悬浮细胞的不同。以正十六烷处理固定化细胞可促进产物释放,其不同的处理时间对细胞没有显著影响。连续培养的固定细胞保持其色素形成能力达８０ｄ之久,色素总产量达２０ｍｇ／ｇＦＷ。     

Effects of abscisic acid on the secondary metabolism of cultured Onosma paniculatum cells

ABA addition to B5 or M9 medium at the concentrations from 0.1 to 5.0 mg/l suppressed growth of Onosma paniculatum cells. The addition of these ABA concentrations to M9 medium also significantly decreased the formation of shikonin and its derivatives in the cultured cells during the entire course of culturing. The enzyme activity assay showed that, on the 4th day after inoculation, 0.1 mg/l ABA significantly decreased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, the first enzyme, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid-geranyltransferase, a key enzyme involved in shikonin biosynthesis. However, no significant change in these two enzyme activities was found during the following days for testing (8, 12, and 16 days). Interestingly, RT-PCR analysis of the PAL1 and LePGT1 gene expression showed no significant changes on the 4th day after inoculation. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect of ABA on the secondary metabolism could be alleviated significantly by the addition of 2-aminoethyl diphenyl borate (an inhibitor of inositol triphosphate-receptor) or nicotinamide (an inhibitor of ADP-ribose cyclase), which functions by decreasing the intracellular calcium concentration. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2007, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 597–603. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Fed-batch hairy root cultures within situ separation

Fed-batch cultures ofL. erythrorhizon hairy root were carried out by controlling sucrose concentration and media conductivity in a shake flask and a modified stirred tank reactor. For the efficient product recovery from the culture,in situ adsorption by XAD-2 was also conducted. When sucrose was used as a carbon source, the highest shikonin production and hairy root growth were obtained. When glucose or fructose was used instead, the growth was severely inhibited. In addition, it was found that alternating feeding of sucrose could be used as an effective strategy for enhancing the productivity of shikonin derivatives., As the XAD-2 amount was increased up to 1.5 g/L, shikonin production was enhanced by removing shikonin produced and other products which might be inhibitory to cell growth. Most amount of shikonin produced was successfully recovered in XAD-2 (Over 99%). Using hairy root culture in a modified stirred tank reactor, the shikonin productivity and hairy root growth rate on the average were 9.34 mg/L day and 0.49 g DCW/L · day, respectively.     

Rapid mass propagation of Chrysanthemum morifolium by callus derived from stem and leaf explants

A procedure for rapid multiplication of Chrysanthemum morifolium RAMAT cv. Birbal Sahni using leaf callus and stem (nodal/internodal) callus as well as node and apical shoots has been developed. Murashige and Skoog's medium (1962) supplemented with 2mg/1 2,4-D yielded good green calli from both leaf and stem segments within 2 weeks. About 1 cm × 1 cm callus regenerated 2–3 shoots after 3 weeks on MS solid medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l IAA and 0.2 mg/l BAP. Each of the regenerated shoots when transferred to the same shooting medium without agar yielded about 150 new shoots, which in turn regenerated roots after another week in MS half strength or modified White's media (Rangaswamy, 1961). It has been estimated that about 10¹⁴ plantlets could be produced in a year from one expiant following the proposed protocol.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium     

Production of shikonin derivatives by cell suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Differences in the production of shikonin derivatives by callus and suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. were examined. When Linsmaier and Skoog medium was used in suspension cultures, cell growth was not accompanied by the production of shikonin compounds. Shikonin derivatives were produced, however, when this medium was used in callus cultures. Differences in shikonin production were examined in terms of the nutrient supply, the effect of the agar itself, and the oxygen supply. Shikonin derivatives could be produced without agar by keeping the cells exposed to air while providing an adequate supply of nutrients. In callus cultures, the production of shikonin compounds was reduced remarkedly when the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere was lowered, evidence that shikonin production during L. erythrorhizon cell growth on Linsmaier and Skoog agar medium is enhanced by an abundant supply of oxygen.     

Increased shikonin production by hairy roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon in two phase bubble column reactor

Summary Plant hairy root cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon were carried out to produce shikonin derivatives by employing in situ extraction with n-hexadecane in a shake flask and a bubble column bioreactor. Over 95 % shikonin produced was recovered in the n-hexadecane layer. In flask cultures the maximum concentration of shikonin with n-hexadecane extraction was 3 times higher than that obtained without extraction. In the two phase bubble column reactor, 572.6 mg/L of shikonin and 15.6 g/L of dry cell mass were obtained after 54 days. Shikonin was produced at a constant level of 10.6 mg/L day during this period.     

Studies on Cell Suspension Culture and Fermentation Culture in Arnebia euchroma

This paper reports some characteristics of cell suspension and fermentation culture in Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst. The yield of suspension culture reached 22.0g dry wt/L per month when inoculum quantity was 2.50 g dry wt/L. Time-course study showed that cell growith lagged in 0–3 days and enhanced greatly in 3–12 days, and almost ceased after 12 days of culture, pH value changed during the culture period and peaked on the 12th day after inoculation. When cells were cultured in liquid production medium, the contents of shikonin derivatives increased quickly and reached to the maximum about the 25th day. The cell yield of 9.47 and 9.34 g dry wt/L per month was obtained in fermentation culture. Timecourse of cell growth in fermentation culture was similar to that in suspension culture. The total content of shikonin derivatives in fermentation culture was 14.26% dry weight from 10 L bioreactor. The yield of shikonin derivatives was 1.93 g/L.     

Induction of benzoquinone formation by activated carbon in Lithospermum erythrorhizon cell suspension cultures

Cultured cells of Lithospermum erythrorhizon which were capable of producing red naphthoquinone (shikonin) derivatives on Linsmaier-Skoog's agar medium stopped synthesizing these compounds when grown in liquid medium without agar. However, when the liquid medium was supplemented with a small amount of activated carbon, the cells produced a new orange benzoquinone derivative, echinofuran B, which may be considered an abnormal metabolite of geranylquinol, the key intermediate in the biosynthesis of shikonin. A similar effect of activated carbon was also observed with a variant cell line incapable of producing shikonin derivatives even on the agar medium. By contrast, the callus cultures grown on the agar medium as well as the dried roots of the intact plant were found to contain a small amount of echinofuran C, another new benzoquinone related to echinofuran B, in addition to shikonin derivatives.     

硬紫草悬浮细胞原生质体培养形成愈伤组织及其体细胞克隆变异

从硬紫草悬浮细胞系ＡＲ１２６分离原生质体,只有用葡萄糖作渗透剂经琼脂糖－液体双层培养才能获得可见的原生质体克隆,从中选择３４个克隆,用两阶段法生产紫草素及其衍生物,测量了它们在两阶段的细胞生长量及生产阶段的色素含量,并比较了其分布规律,其中最好的原生质体克隆色素生产量是起始悬浮系的２．５４倍,经培养４０ｄ达４４．０６ｍｇｇ－１ＦＷ,而且其生产量在所测的８０ｄ内无明显下降。     

Effects of Physical and Chemical Factors on Callus Growth and Shikonin Derivative Formation in the Callus Cultures of Arnebia euchroma

The effects of some physical and chemical factors on callus growth and shikonin derivative formation in the callus cultures of Arnebla euchroma were discussed. According to experiments, the optimum temperature for callus growth and shikonin derivative formation was 25℃, and the favorable initial pH of media was in the range of 5.3–5.8. Authors also found that both callus growth and shikonin derivative formation were strongly inhibited by white light. Callus growth was promoted when 0.2 mg/L IAA and 0.5 mg/L KT were added to the media, but IAA and KT did not promote shikonin derivative formation. Furthermore, the content and yield of shikonin derivatives in cultures decreased in company with the increase of IAA and KT concentration in the media.