Alternative production of Saponins from Panax ginseng

Different systems of large-scale cultivation of multiple adventitious roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer comparing to common cultivation in Erlenmayer flasks were established. Adventitious roots were isolated from plantlets regenerated from somatic embryos and cultivated separately in liquid media. Formation of adventitious roots was reached on liquid Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) medium containing 3% sucrose, and 24.6 mu M indole-3-butric I acid. The highest saponin content of 2,09 mg.g(-1) of fresh weight was found in adventitious roots cultivated in Rita system and in Osmotek Life Reactor. The best production of biomass was achieved in standard Erlenmayer flasks placed on rotary shaker, followed by Rita bioreactor. Saponin production in Erlenmayer flasks was considerably lower (0.72 mg.g(-1) of fresh weight). The saponin production of roots cultivated in other tested bioreactor systems was not significant.