CELL GROWTH AND FLAVONOIDS PRODUCTION IN SUSPENSION CULTURE OF SAUSSUREA MEDUSA

Cell suspension cultures were established from Saussurea medusa Maxim, callus cultures. The effects of different rotation speeds of the gyratory shaker, different inoculum sizes and different pH values of the medium on cell growth and flavonoid formation were studied. The result showed that the optimum rotation, speed, inoculum size and initial pH value of the medium were 90 similar to 120 r/min, 50 similar to 80 g FW/L and 5.5 similar to 6.0 respectively for cell growth and flavonoids formation in the suspension cultures. Sucrose was better than glucose and fructose for the suspension cultures. The optimum concentration of sucrose for cell growth and flavonoid production was 40 g/L, and the concentration of flavonoids could be as high as 1 423.25 mg/L. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of cell suspension culture extracts showed that the concentrations of jaceosidin and hispidulin in the flavonoids were 22.11% and 0.15% respectively.