Suitability of bench scale bioreactor system for shoot biomass production and bacoside biosynthesis from Bacopa monnieri (L.)

According to folklore, Bacopa monnieri commonly called as Brahmi is known for its cognitive enhancing properties. The plant is found abundantly in wetlands but the drug content (bacosides) is very low (0.2%), therefore, alternative biotechnological protocols are highly needed to supplement the constant source of this valuable plant material which produces stable amounts of bacosides. The present study was conducted to explore the application of different culture systems for cultivation of shoot biomass and maximization of biologically active bacoside biosynthesis in this medicinally important plant. Shoot cultures of Bacopa were cultivated in two different modified benchtop bioreactors: glass bottle bioreactor and balloon type bubble bioreactor and compared with those grown in traditional Erlenmeyer agitated flask. The shoots cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor system showed excellent growth (growth index 796.47 +/- 17.27 fresh weight and 395.55 +/- 7.55 dry weight) as compared to glass bottle bioreactor system (growth index 488.17 +/- 14.4 fresh weight and 327.79 +/- 6.64 dry weight) and agitated flask (growth index 363.43 +/- 11 fresh weight and 304.22 +/- 6.76 dry weight). Furthermore, bacosides produced by shoot cultures cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor (321.95 +/- 17.14 mg/L) and glass bottle bioreactor (180.18 +/- 6.25 mg/L) configurations were similar to 2.78 fold and similar to 1.55 fold higher than that recorded in agitated flask cultures (115.7 +/- 3.84 mg/L). The balloon type bubble bioreactor system was found to be advantageous for enhancing B. monnieri shoot biomass and bacoside biosynthesis along with ensuring a successful protocol for continuous supply.