Improvement of Panax notoginseng cell culture for production of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide by high density cultivation in pneumatically agitated bioreactors

A Panax notoginseng cell culture was successfully scaled up from shake flask to 1.0-L bubble column reactor and concentric-tube airlift reactor. High-density bioreactor batch cultivation was carried out using a modified MS medium. The maximum cell density in batch cultures reached 20.1, 21.0 and 24.1 g/L in the shake flask, bubble column and airlift reactors, respectively, and their corresponding biomass productivity was 950, 1140 and 1350 mg/(L x d) for each. The productivity of ginseng saponin was 70, 96 and 99 mg/(L x d) in the flask, bubble column and airlift reactors, respectively; and the polysaccharide productivity reached 104, 119 and 151 mg/(L x d) for each. Furthermore, a fed-batch cultivation strategy was developed on the basis of specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), i.e., sucrose feeding before a sharp decrease of SOUR, and the highest cell density of 29.7 g/L was successfully achieved in the airlift bioreactor on day 17 with a very high biomass productivity of 1520 mg/(L x d). The concentrations of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide reached about 2.1 and 3.0 g/L, respectively, and their productivity was 106 (saponin) and 158 mg/(L x d) (polysaccharide). This work successfully demonstrated the high-density bioreactor cultivation of P. notoginseng cells in pneumatically agitated bioreactors and the reproduction of the shake flask culture results in bioreactors. The cell density, biomass productivity, production titer and productivity of both ginseng saponin and polysaccharide obtained here were the highest that have been reported on a reactor scale for all the ginseng species.     

Hyperproduction of cordycepin by two-stage dissolved oxygen control in submerged cultivation of medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris in bioreactors

Effect of oxygen supply on cordycepin production was investigated in submerged cultivation of Cordyceps militaris, a famous traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom, in a 5-L turbine-agitated bioreactor (TAB). Initial volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) within the range of 11.5-113.8 h(-1) had significant influence on cordycepin production. The highest cordycepin concentration of 167.5 mg/L was obtained at an initial kLa value of 54.5 h(-1), where a moderate dissolved oxygen (DO) pattern was observed throughout cultivation. The possible correlation between cordycepin production and DO level was explored by DO control experiments, and the results showed that DO within the range of 10-80% of air saturation greatly affected the cultivation process. To obtain a high specific cordycepin formation rate (rho) throughout cultivation, a two-stage DO control strategy was developed based on the analysis of the relationship of rho and DO. That is, DO was controlled at 60% from the beginning of cultivation and then shifted to a lower control level of 30% when rho started to decrease. As a result, a high cordycepin production of 201.1 mg/L and a high productivity of 15.5 mg/(L.d) were achieved, which was enhanced by about 15% and 30% compared to the highest titers obtained in conventional DO control experiments, respectively. The proposed DO control strategy was also applied to a recently developed 5-L centrifugal impeller bioreactor (CIB) with cordycepin production and productivity titers of 188.3 mg/L and 14.5 mg/(L.d). Furthermore, the scale-up of the two-stage DO control process from 5-L CIB to 30-L CIB was successfully demonstrated. The work is useful for the efficient large-scale production of bioactive metabolites by mushroom cultures.     

High Density Cultivation of Panax notoginseng Cell Cultures with Methyl Jasmonate Elicitation in a Centrifugal Impeller Bioreactor

True ginseng roots contain “active compounds” called ginsenosides. The enhanced production of useful bioactive ginsenosides by high‐density cell cultures of Panax notoginseng in a self‐developed centrifugal impeller bioreactor (CIB) was achieved by adding methyl jasmonic acid (MJA) during cultivation. The production of the major, individual ginsenosides Rg₁, Re and Rb₁ was significantly enhanced in both 3‐L and 30‐L CIBs. The production titer of Rg₁, Re and Rb₁ ginsenosides in the 30‐L CIB was improved from 42 ± 8, 42 ± 9 and 41 ± 6 mg/L without MJA elicitation, to 104 ± 6, 71 ± 5 and 95 ± 6 mg/L with MJA elicitation, respectively. The ratio of Rb/Rg was slightly improved by MJA treatment in a 3‐L CIB but no apparent difference was observed in a 30‐L CIB. This work is useful for the understanding of the effects of large‐scale production on the individual ginseng saponins produced by plant cell cultures     

Scale-up of a liquid static culture process for hyperproduction of ganoderic acid by the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum

Scale-up of a liquid static culture process was studied for hyperproduction of ganoderic acid (GA) by a famous Chinese traditional medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum. Initial volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a) and area of liquid surface per liquid volume (A(s)) were identified as key factors affecting cell growth and GA accumulation in liquid static cultures of G. lucidum, on the basis of which a multilayer static bioreactor was designed. At a low initial K(L)a level of 2.1 h(-1), a thick layer of white mycelia was formed on the liquid surface, and an optimal production of total GA (i.e., GA production in the liquid and on the liquid surface) was obtained. Both the formation of white mycelia and production of GA on the liquid surface were enhanced with an increase of A(s) within the range as investigated (0.24-1.53 cm(2)/mL). At an A(s) value of 0.90 cm(2)/mL, the total GA production reached maximum. A successful scale-up from a 20-mL static T-flask to a 7.5-L three-layer static bioreactor was achieved based on initial K(L)a. The maximum biomass (20.8 +/- 0.1 g DW/L), GA content (4.96 +/- 0.13 mg/100 mg DW), and total GA production (976 +/- 35 mg/L) were attained in static bioreactors. Not only GA content but also its production obtained in this work were the highest ever reported.     

Bioreactor application on adventitious root culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus membranaceus</Emphasis>

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the most widely used traditional medicinal herbs in China, but the time required to generate a useful product in the field production is long. The growth of adventitious root cultures was compared between cultures grown in solid, liquid, or a 5-L balloon-type bubble bioreactor. The maximum growth ratio (final dry weight/initial dry weight) was determined for adventitious roots grown in the bioreactor. Studies carried out to optimize biomass production of adventitious roots compared adventitious root growth from various inoculum root lengths, inoculum densities, and aeration volume in the bioreactors. The maximum growth ratio occurred in treatments with a 1.5-cm inoculum root length, with 30 g (fresh weight) of inoculum per bioreactor or with an aeration volume of 0.1 vvm (air volume/culture medium volume per min). The polysaccharide, saponin, and flavonoid content of roots from bioreactor-grown cultures were compared to roots from field-grown plants grown for 1 and 3 yr. Total polysaccharide content of adventitious roots in the bioreactor (30.0 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW)) was higher than the roots of 1-yr-old (13.8 mg g⁻¹ DW) and 3-yr-old (21.1 mg g⁻¹ DW) plants in the field. Total saponin (3.4 mg g⁻¹ DW) and flavonoid (6.4 mg g⁻¹ DW) contents were nearly identical to 3-yr-old roots and higher than that of 1-yr-old roots under field cultivation.     

Effect of osmotic pressure on cell growth and production of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide in suspension cultures of Panax notoginseng

Summary The effects of initial osmotic pressure (IOP) on the production of ginseng polysaccharide and ginseng saponin were studied in suspension cultures of Panax notoginseng cells. At higher IOP, the specific saponin production and intracellular carbohydrate storage were increased, while the plant cell volume, the consumption rates of major medium components and the specific cell growth rate were decreased. The specific production of polysaccharide was reduced with an increase of IOP from 4.45 to 5.18 atm, and levelled off at an even higher IOP.     

Effect of plant growth regulators and medium composition on cell growth and saponin production during cell-suspension culture of mountain ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. mayer)

We have established cell-suspension cultures of mountain ginseng (Panax ginseng G A. Mayer), and have attempted to increase the yield of saponin by manipulating our processing method and culturing factors (e.g., media strengths; the presence of plant growth regulators or sucrose; ratios of NO⁺ ₃/ NH^- ₄). Maximum biomass yield was obtained in media containing 2,4-D. However, saponin productivity was much higher in a medium comprising either IBA or NAA; 7.0 mg/L IBA was optimal for promoting both cell growth (10.0 g/L dry weight) and saponin production (7.29 mg/g DW total ginsenoside). Although the addition of cytokinins (BA and kinetin) did not affect cell growth, the level of saponin (particularly in the Rb group) was enhanced when the media were supplemented with either 0.5 mg/L BA or 0.5 mg/L kinetin. Half- and full-strength MS media were equally suitable for inducing both biomass as well as saponin production. We also investigated the effect of various concentrations of sucrose and nitrogen, and found that 30 g/L sucrose enhanced biomass yield as well as saponin content However, further increases (i.e., up to 70 g/L) led to a decrease in saponin accumulation and biomass production. Maximum growth and saponin productivity were reported from treatments with an initial nitrogen concentration of 30 mM. In general, the amount of saponin increased when the test media had high NO⁺ ₃/ NH^- ₄ ratios; in fact, saponin production was greatest when nitrate was the sole nitrogen source.     

Influence of auxins and sucrose in monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloid production by Uncaria tomentosa cell suspension cultures

Growth and alkaloid production in Uncaria tomentosa cell suspension cultures were studied in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 10 microM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 10 microM kinetin, and 58 mM sucrose for maintenance and with 10 microM indole-3-acetic acid, 10 microM kinetin, and 58 mM sucrose for production. A U. tomentosa pale Uth-3 cell line, cultured in the production medium, showed a reduced lag phase and a specific growth rate (mu) of 0.27 day(-1), while cells growing in the maintenance medium showed mu = 0.20 day(-1). U. tomentosa cells growing in the production medium produced monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids (MOA) in amounts of 10.2 +/- 1.6 microg g(-1) dry weight (DW). The chemical profile of MOA produced by in vitro cell cultures was similar to that found in the plant. After 10 subcultures, maximum MOA production decreased to 2.0 +/- 0.7 microg g(-1) DW, while tryptamine alkaloids (TA) were produced with a maximum of 6.2 +/- 0.4 microg g(-1) DW. The increase of initial sucrose concentration up to 145 mM in the production medium enhanced the cell biomass by 3.2-fold (from 10.2 +/- 0.1 to 32.8 +/- 1.1 g DW L(-1)), reduced mu from 0.27 to 0.23 day(-1), and provoked a substantial accumulation of TA (23.1 +/- 4.7 microg g(-1) DW). A high sucrose concentration stimulated MOA production in the maintenance medium (2.7 +/- 0.5 microg g(-1) DW), even in the presence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.     

Production of ginseng and its bioactive components in plant cell culture: current technological and applied aspects

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng CA Mayer) is a valuable oriental herb, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, both as a disease-healing drug and a general tonic. The medicinal value of ginseng is now also widely recognized in the west and the world ginseng market is expanding. The current supply of ginseng depends mainly on field cultivation, which is a slow and laborious process. Plant cell and tissue culture methods have been explored as potentially more efficient alternatives for the mass production of ginseng and its bioactive components. Research into ginseng cell and tissue cultures started in the early 1960s and commercial applications have been underway since the late 1980s. The ginseng cell culture has continued to attract considerable research and development effort in recent years as scientists seek to understand and optimize the culture conditions. In this paper, we review recent studies on ginseng cell culture processes, focusing on the physiological and bioengineering factors affecting the productivity of ginseng biomass and useful metabolites (e.g. ginseng saponin and polysaccharide) and the progress and concerns in large-scale applications.     

Production of ginsenoside and polysaccharide by two-stage cultivation of Panax quinquefolium L. cells

Based on the results of carbon source consumption in cell suspension culture of Panax quinquefolium L., 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose was fed into a 5-L stirred tank bioreactor on day 16 of culture to enhance cell density and metabolite production. Using a fed-batch cultivation strategy, polysaccharide production was enhanced to 1.608 g L⁻¹, which was 1.96-fold greater than with batch cultivation. The maximum saponin yield (7.828 mg L⁻¹) was obtained on day 24 and was about 36% higher than the yields obtained using batch cultivation. In a two-stage culture process, a combined treatment with sucrose, lactoalbumin hydrolysate, and methyl jasmonate caused a significant increase in total saponin yield (31.52 mg L⁻¹) in cell cultures after 27 d. This value represents an increase of 4.03-fold compared with the total saponin yield in fed-batch cultivation. The two-stage culture mode provided the best method for the in vitro production of secondary metabolites from P. quinquefolium.     

真菌诱导子对悬浮培养西洋参细胞的生理效应

报道了不同真菌诱导子对悬浮培养的西洋参（Ｐａｎａｘｑｕｉｎｑｕｅｆｏｌｉｕｍ）细胞生长、皂甙和多糖合成,以及细胞内和培养液中过氧化物酶活性的生理效应。悬浮培养的西洋参细胞经刺盘孢菌（Ｃｏｌｌｅｔｏｔｒｉｃｈｕｍｎｉｃｏｌｔｉａｎａｅ）丝体诱导子处理后,总皂甙产率可由对照的２９６ｍｇ／Ｌ增加到６７９ｍｇ／Ｌ（约占细胞干重的（１６．３％）,比对照提高约１．３倍,而且总皂甙的８５％排放在培养液中;经黑曲霉（Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｌｕｓｎｉｇｒａｎ）诱导子处理后,细胞多糖含量可达到１１．７９％（细胞干重）,比对照增加１倍多。初步纯化的刺盘孢菌丝体诱导子和尖孢镰刀菌（Ｆｕｓｕｒｉｕｍｏｘｙｓｐｏｒｕｍ）滤液诱导子在诱导处理前期能明显促进西洋参细胞生长,同时细胞内及培养液中过氧化物酶活性显著增加;随时间延长,细胞生长和酶活性逐步受到抑制。     

Effect of oxygen supply on cell growth and saponin production in bioreactor cultures of Panax ginseng

The effects of oxygen supply within the range 20.8–50% (using pure oxygen and air), on cell cultures of Panax ginseng were investigated in a balloon-type bubble bioreactor (5 L capacity, containing 4 L Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 7.0 mg L⁻¹ indolebutyric acid, 0.5 mg L⁻¹ kinetin and 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose). A 40% oxygen supply was found to be optimal for the production of both cell mass and saponin yielding values of 12.8 g (DW) L⁻¹, 4.5 mg (g DW)⁻¹ on day 25, respectively. Low (20.8%, 30%) and high (50%) oxygen concentration supplies were unfavorable to cell growth and saponin accumulation. The results indicate that oxygen supplementation to bioreactor-based ginseng cultures was beneficial for biomass accumulation and saponin production.     

Effect of addition of water-soluble polysaccharides on bacterial cellulose production in a 50-L airlift reactor

Bacterial cellulose (BC) production was carried out in a batch cultivation of Acetobacter xylinum in a 50-L internal loop airlift reactor by addition of water-soluble polysaccharides into the medium. When 0.1% (w/w) agar was added, BC production reached 8.7 g/L compared with 6.3 g/L in the control, and duration of the cultivation period to reach the maximum concentration of BC was almost half of that without addition of polysaccharides. During cultivation, BC was formed into pellets whose size was smaller when the productivity of BC was higher, indicating that increase in the relative viscosity by addition of polysaccharides hindered formation of large clumps of BC and increase in the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient at high flow rate led to increase in BC productivity.     

霍山石斛类原球茎二步法培养细胞生长和多糖合成的动力学研究

磷是调控类原球茎细胞生长和多糖积累的有效因素。为了获得较高的多糖产量,根据霍山石斛类原球茎生长和多糖积累的动力学特性,提出了二步培养方式,采用了补料策略,研究了其培养过程的动力学特性,并建立了相关模型。结果表明,采用二步法培养,生物量从28·7gDW/L提高到44·2gDW/L,多糖产量从1·86g/L提高到5·22g/L,多糖含量从6·4%提高到11·9%。建立的模型基本反映了类原球茎生长和多糖积累的动力学机制。     

霍山石斛类原球茎二步法培养细胞生长和多糖合成的动力学研究

磷是调控类原球茎细胞生长和多糖积累的有效因素。为了获得较高的多糖产量,根据霍山石斛类原球茎生长和多糖积累的动力学特性,提出了二步培养方式,采用了补料策略,研究了其培养过程的动力学特性,并建立了相关模型。结果表明,采用二步法培养,生物量从28.7g DW/L提高到44.2g DW/L, 多糖产量从1.86g/L提高到5.22g/L,多糖含量从6.4%提高到11.9%。建立的模型基本反映了类原球茎生长和多糖积累的动力学机制。     

以异养细胞作为种子的椭圆小球藻产油脂光自养培养优化

异养细胞种子/光自养培养方法是一种可异养培养的能源微藻培养的有效方法,但已有文献尚未从工艺优化角度考察其发展潜力。为了获得较高细胞密度的用于光自养培养的种子和提高光自养培养的细胞密度与油脂产率,对异养细胞种子/光自养培养的培养基和培养条件进行了优化。结果表明,采用优化后的培养基,椭圆小球藻在摇瓶中异养培养的最高藻细胞密度可达11.04 g/L,比在初始培养基条件下提高了28.0%,在5 L发酵罐中异养培养的藻细胞密度达到73.89 g/L;在2 L柱式光生物反应器中光自养培养的藻细胞密度、油脂含量和油脂产率分别达1.62 g/L、36.34%和6.1 mg/(L·h),油脂成分主要为含C16-C18碳链的脂肪酸,是制备生物柴油的理想原料。经过优化,异养细胞种子/光自养培养这一方法能够显著地提高椭圆小球藻产油脂的能力,这进一步表明异养细胞种子/光自养培养方法有望成为可异养的能源微藻的高效培养方式。     

Monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloid production by Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C. cell suspension cultures in a stirred tank bioreactor

Cell growth, monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloid (MOA) production, and morphological properties of Uncaria tomentosa cell suspension cultures in a 2-L stirred tank bioreactor were investigated. U. tomentosa (cell line green Uth-3) was able to grow in a stirred tank at an impeller tip speed of 95 cm/s (agitation speed of 400 rpm), showing a maximum biomass yield of 11.9 +/- 0.6 g DW/L and a specific growth rate of 0.102 d(-1). U. tomentosa cells growing in a stirred tank achieved maximum volumetric and specific MOA concentration (467.7 +/- 40.0 microg/L, 44.6 +/- 5.2 microg/g DW) at 16 days of culture. MOA chemical profile of cell suspension cultures growing in a stirred tank resembled that of the plant. Depending on culture time, from the total MOA produced, 37-100% was found in the medium in the bioreactor culture. MOA concentration achieved in a stirred tank was up to 10-fold higher than that obtained in Erlenmeyer flasks (agitated at 110 rpm). In a stirred tank, average area of the single cells of U. tomentosa increased up to 4-fold, and elliptical form factor increased from 1.40 to 2.55, indicating enlargement of U. tomentosa single cells. This work presents the first report of U. tomentosa green cell suspension cultures that grow and produce MOA in a stirred tank bioreactor.     

Regulation of fungal elicitors on the cell growth and biosynthesis of saponin of Panax ginseng cell suspension culture]

Adding fungal elicitors to the Panax ginseng cell suspension cultures, the biosynthesis of saponin was obviously induced, the total productivity of saponin in cultures could increase more than 30% of the control. During elicitation, the accumulation patterns of saponin in suspension cultured cells were changed, the culture time for maximum biosynthesis of saponin was shortened 2-4 days comparing with that of the control, and about 80% of biosynthetic saponin in elicited cells was secreted into medium, meanwhile the uptake for sucrose in medium of cells was enhanced, and the disturbing of pH in medium was observed, which predicated that an ion exchange occurred between elicited cells and medium.     

An novel immobilization method of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to sorghum bagasse for ethanol production

Natural sorghum bagasse without any treatment was used to immobilize Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 0.6+/-0.2g dry cell weight (DCW)/g dry sorghum bagasse weight (DSW) through solid-state or semi-solid state incubation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the carriers revealed the friendship between yeast cells and sorghum bagasse are adsorption and embedding. The ethanol productivity of the immobilized cells was 2.24 times higher than the free cells. In repeated batch fermentation with an initial sugar concentration of 200g/L, nearly 100% total sugar was consumed after 16 h. The ethanol yield and productivity were 4.9 g/g consumed sugar on average and 5.72 g/(Lh), respectively. The immobilized cell reactor was operated over a period of 20 days without breakage of the carriers, while the free cell concentration in the effluent remained less than 5 g/L thoughout the fermentation. The maximum ethanol productivity of 16.68 g/(Lh) appeared at the dilution rate of 0.3h(-1).