The Production of Biologically Active Substances by Plant Cell Cultures in Space

The impact of the conditions of space flight on the productivity of cultures of the plant cells with respect to the biomass and the metabolites is investigated. The experiments were performed with the callus cultures of the cells of ginseng (Panax ginseng), red root puccoon (Lithospermum arythrorhizon), and macrotomia coloring (Macrotomia euchroma) onboard the orbital station Mirand American Space Shuttle. A more pronounced variation of the output of the metabolites is noted with respect to the ground control. This output depends upon the properties of the strain and conditions of the experiment.