Saponin Production by Cell/Callus Cultures of Panax Species

Abstract

Roots of ginseng (“Elixir of Life”) have long been recognised as a miraculous herbal medicine to combat ageing and nervous stresses in the Orient [1]. Ginseng is characterised by the presence of a group of triterpene glycosidic saponins — the ginsenosides [2]. Owing to the strong immuno-modulatory, adaptogenic and aphrodisiac actions of these saponins, ginseng roots are the fourth largest selling health care product in the international market today [3]. Priced at around 1500 US $ per kg, the annual demand of Panax roots is estimated to be about 40 thousand tons. Indian pharmaceutical companies alone import 400–500 tons of ginseng roots annually. The bulk of this market demand is met by the sale of 4–7 year old roots of P. ginseng (Korean ginseng) and P. quinquefolium (American ginseng). The agricultural production of ginseng is extremely slow and poses great demands on labour, soil and climate [1, 4]. This, with the backdrop of their increasing industrial demand and soaring price, have made Panax species a forerunner for applying modern biotechnological tools to enhance ginsenoside production. Therefore, employment of cell and tissue cultures for the in vitro synthesis of ginsenosides has been actively pursued in many laboratories [2–10].