Investigation on the effect of subculture frequency and inoculum size on the artemisinin content in a cell suspension culture of 'Artemisia annua' L

• Published in: Australian Journal of Crop Science Vol. 6; no. 5; pp. 801 - 807
• Main Authors: KiahYann, Lo, Jelodar, Nadali Babaeian, Lai-Keng, Chan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lismore, N.S.W Southern Cross Publishers 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Antimalarials; Artemisia annua; Growth (Plants); Metabolism; Plant tissue culture; Plants; Australia
• ISSN: 1835-2693

Artemisinin, an endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone, has been proven to be effective for the treatment of both drug resistant and cerebral malaria parasites. It is isolated mainly from the aerial parts of Artemisia annua plants but the production is not sufficient for the current market demand. Chemical synthesis of artemisinin was found to be difficult and not economically viable. Therefore, the enhanced production of artemisinin via the in vitro cell culture technique is highly desirable. Friable callus is required for the preparation of the cell suspension culture. The callus cultures of A. annua were initiated from the leaf explants. Light green friable calli at the fourth subculture cycle were chosen as the best callus age to initiate cell suspension culture. The A. annua cells could be maintained with a growth index of between 10 and 18 for 33 subculture cycles with 16 days interval per cycle. The highest artemisinin content was detected in cultures with initial inoculum of 0.50 g after 12 days of culture in the callus induction medium.