Growth and biosynthetic characteristics of ginseng (Panax japonicus var. repens) deep-tank cell culture in bioreactors

The aim of the work was to study the growth characteristics of cultured cells of Panax japonicus var. repens, an endemic plant of the Primorski Krai of Russia, grown in laboratory bioreactors and to determine the content of basic ginsenosides under these conditions. An increase of the inoculum size of the culture produced higher biomass accumulation and economic coefficient but slightly reduced the specific growth rate. An increase in the auxin concentration in a medium by adding 2,4-D practically did not affect growth characteristics of the culture but significantly reduced the size of cell aggregates. In all treatments tested, all major ginsenosides (Rb₁, Rc, Rb₂, Rd, Rf, Rg₁, and Re) were found in the culture. The total ginsenoside content was 2–3% per biomass dry weight. Meantime, ginsenosides of the Rg-series with protopanaxatriol as aglycone prevailed (70% of the total ginsenoside content). The culture conditions considerably affected the ratio of individual ginsenosides. In 2,4-D-containing medium, the preferential synthesis of Re ginsenoside was observed while both Rg₁ and Re were synthesized in other treatments.