Comparison of qualitative and quantitative in vitro ginsenoside production in callus cultures of three Panax species

The qualitative and quantitative difference in the various ginsenoside constituents of the crude butanol-soluble saponin fractions of callus cultures of two Indian species of Panax namely P. sikkimensis and P. pseudoginseng have been compared with that of P. quinquefolium (American ginseng). The 45-50 days old calli of the two Indian species, though found to accumulate crude ginsenoside at levels (0.9 % and 1.1 %, respectively) comparable to that in P. quinquefolium (1.2 %), P. pseudoginseng callus showed high productivity of ginsenosides Rf (40.57 %) and Ro (19.60 %). Panax sikkimensis and P. quinquefolium calli on the other hand accumulated more of Rb and Rg group of ginsenosides but while the former appeared to be a Rg(2) accumulator the callus of the later was rich in the Rg(1) fraction.