Journal of Environmental Biology

Nutrient consumption and production of isoflavones in bioreactor cultures of Pueraria lobata (Willd)

G. Chen^1,2 and L. Li*¹

¹College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangdong Key Lab of Biotechnology

for Plant Development, Guangzhou-510 631, China

²Department of Biology, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing-526 061, China

(Received: September 29, 2005; Revised received: April 25, 2006; Rerevised received: June 25, 2006; Accepted: July 20, 2006)

Abstract: This paper reports the successful culture of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) suspension cells in a bioreactor. In vitro culture of this Chinese herb has potential as an alternative production method for industrial applications. Calli of P. lobata obtained from leaf explants were cultured in a 5.0 L bioreactor for two weeks. During this period, the pH of the medium declined from 5.8 to 4.5. By the end of the run about 70% of the sugars and reducing sugars and about 50% of nitrate was consumed. Almost 70% of inorganic phosphate and about 80% of the iron was exhausted. The bioreactor results indicated an isoflavone yield of 328.9 mg/ml, with an increase of about 1.77 fold. The yield of puerarin increased about 2.42 fold and reached 73.4 mg/ml in the bioreactor culture.

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