Combined effects of initial sucrose concentration and inoculum size on cell growth and ginseng saponin production by suspension cultures of Panax ginseng

Cell growth and ginseng saponin production by suspension cultures of Panax ginseng were investigated under various initial sucrose concentrations and inoculum sizes. Cell growth was low at a low inoculum size of 1.5 g DW/1, and the maximum cell growth rate was obtained at 3 g DW/1 of inoculum size. A cell density of 22.4 g/l was obtained at inoculum size of 6 g DW/1 and initial sucrose concentration of 60 g/l after 26 days cultivation. The maximum cell yield of 0.83 was obtained at inoculum size of 3 g DW/1 and initial sucrose level of 30 g/l. Saponin biosynthesis was stimulated with high initial sucrose concentrations (60-80 g/l), and the maximum saponin production of 275 mg/l was achieved at 6 g/l of inoculum size and 60 g/l initial medium sucrose. This work is considered to be helpful for efficient large-scale bioprocessing of the ginseng cell cultures in bioreactors. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.