Ginsenosides in hairy roots of a Panax hybrid

Hairy roots of an interspecific hybrid ginseng (Panax ginseng x P. quinquefolium), named Pgq, were established by the infection of Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834. Growth and ginsenosides content of hairy roots cultured in various basal liquid media were measured periodically from 2 to 8 weeks. In Gamborg B5 liquid medium, the hairy roots showed best growth (5.87 g fresh weight per flask) at week 8. The highest content of ginsenoside was 2.87% as dry weight at week 8 when cultured in 1/8 Murashige-Skoog liquid medium. The ginsenoside content of Pgq hairy roots was comparable to that of Pgq root cultivated in the field. However the highest yield of ginsenosides was obtained in B5 liquid medium (3.85 mg per flask at week 8). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.