SAPONIN PRODUCTION IN CALLUS AND CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES OF PANAX-QUINQUEFOLIUM

Callus and cell suspension cultures of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) were compared for growth and in vitro ginsenoside production over a 35-day culture cycle on modified Murashige and Skoog's medium. A time course study at five day intervals revealed that biomass yield in suspension and callus cultures was maximal on the 25th and 30th day of growth, respectively. Both types of cultures were able to produce ginsenosides in amounts and quality comparable to the cultivated plants. TLC-densitometry and HPLC analyses of the crude ginsenosides revealed that yield and relative distribution of different fractions belonging to the Rb and Rg groups of ginsenosides were greatly influenced by culture age. For the Rb group components, 25-day-old callus or suspension cultures were the best source of these compounds, while for the Rg group fractions 30-35-day-oId cell cultures gave the maximum yield. Appreciable amounts of ginsenosides, particularly Rg1, were found to leach out in the culture medium of 30-35-day-old suspension cultures.