[Dynamics of ginsenoside biosynthesis in suspension culture of Panax notoginseng]

To study the dynamics of ginsenoside biosynthesis in suspension culture of Panax notoginseng.

The calli of Panax notoginseng were suspended in liquid medium for 40 d, and the changes of ginsenosides were determined by HPLC method.

Cell growth was slow in suspension culture, but the contents of six ginsenosides varied with different culture time. The contents of four ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rh1 and Rb1 showed the increases from about 3.63 to 9.72 mg/g, 2.34 to 7.02 mg/g, 0.42 to 2.37 mg/g and 0.24 to 1.86 mg/g, respectively during 25 and 30 days of the culture. Rh2 and F1 had no obvious change. Such results indicated that the protopanaxatriol saponions (Rg1, Re and Rh1) increased significantly during the growth phase.

When the callus is cultured for 25 days, the maximum yield of total saponins content is up to 20.58 mg/g,mainly of the protopanaxatriol saponins.