Ginsenoside contents in Panax quinquefolium organs from field cultivation.

Quantitative composition of saponins (ginsenosides) in Panax quinquefolium originating from field cultivation in Poland and harvested at the beginning of the growing season, during the blossoming period and at the end of growth was determined. A colourimetric method gave lower values compared to results of HPLC analysis, but the tendency of change in the content of saponins was similar in both instances. Ginsenoside amounts in P. quinquefolium organs changed depending on the specific time during the vegetation season the samples were taken. This study found that the highest content of these metabolites--66 mg/g d. w.-- occurred in the roots of the plant at the time of bloom. Two among the six metabolites examined in our study were dominant independently of the vegetation season. These were Rb1 and Re, with values of 25.4-33.8 mg/g d. w. and 16.4-19.7 mg/g d. w., respectively.

Mist trickling bioreactor for Centaurium erythraea Rafn growth of shoots and production of secoiridoids.

Shoots of Centaurium erythraea Rafn were cultivated in 5 l mist trickling bioreactor for 21 and 28 days increasing their dry weight from 0.54 g to 13.7 g and 18.3 g, respectively. About 6880 shoots from 223 initial shoot-tips in 21-day bioreactor producing cycle were produced. The shoots could be successfully rooted and transferred to soil. Secoiridoid accumulation (expressed as a sum of gentiopicroside, sweroside and swertiamarin) in shoots after 21 days of culture reached about 303 mg l-1.