Composition of phenolics and anthocyanins in a sweet potato cell suspension culture

Accumulation of selected phenolic acids and anthocyanins and changes in their compositions were monitored in a sweet potato cell line (PL) suspension culture during one growth period of 24 days in the dark in modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for high-anthocyanin production. The total amount of phenolic compounds increased 3-fold over 4 days after transfer into a modified medium and remained at the same level over the whole growth period. Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were among the phenolic compounds identified. Dynamic changes in the composition of anthocyanin pigments were detected. The relative concentrations of non-acylated anthocyanins YGM-0a and -0b, which significantly dominated pigment extract in the tissue produced in non-modified MS medium, dropped drastically after transfer into a high-anthocyanin production medium from 40.5 to 5.7% and from 19.8 to 3.9%, respectively. These decreases were concomitant with increases in the relative concentrations of acylated pigments. Within 9 days of growth in the high-anthocyanin production medium the level of pigment accumulation increased 3-fold. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.