PRODUCTION OF SANGUINARINE BY SUSPENSION-CULTURE OF PAPAVER-SOMNIFERUM IN BIOREACTORS

Abstract

A cell line of Papaver somniferum was cultivated in various sizes of bioreactors (up to 300 l) to investigate both large scale suspension culture and sanguinarine production. Using elicitation with homogenates of Botrytis (plant pathogen fungi), a sanguinarine production of 300 mg/l was achieved in the 300 l culture. Optimal sanguinarine production was achieved by adding elicitor into the culture when the remaining sugar level was less than 2 g/l and by harvesting cells within 2 d from that point. A sudden increase in oxygen consumption after elicitation was revealed as an important factor in the control of sanguinarine production. These experiments show the possibility of commercial production of sanguinarine using large scale suspension culture of P. somniferum.