Dynamics analyses of nutrients consumption and flavonoids accumulation in cell suspension culture of Glycyrrhiza inflata

Abstract

The dynamics of biomass accumulation, production of flavonoids and consumption of carbon, nitrogen and phosphate were investigated in Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal cell suspensions cultivated in flasks. Biomass accumulation exhibited a "S"-shape curve in each culture cycle, with the greatest values obtained on day 21 (16.4 and 232.4 g dm-3 of dry and fresh mass, respectively). Similarly, flavonoids production also got to a peak of 95.7 mg dm-3 on day 21. Sucrose was decomposed to reducing sugars which were almost used up on day 22. Nitrate and phosphate in the medium were almost exhausted on day 18 and 10, respectively, while ammonium still maintained at concentration 100 mg dm-3 when the cells were harvested. Consequently, the proportion of ammonium to nitrate in the medium should be optimized for higher flavonoid production. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.