Rosmarinic Acid Production and Growth Characteristics of Anchusa officinalis Cell Suspension Cultures

Abstract

The kinetics of growth, rosmarinic acid (RA) accumulation, major nutrient uptake and respiration rate of Anchusa officinalis cell suspension cultures have been investigated. The biosynthesis of RA is restricted to the linear phase of the growth cycle, resulting in a marked increase in RA accumulation from 1% to 6% of dry weight. The onset of RA synthesis coincided with the almost complete depletion of phosphate and nitrate from the medium and also with a striking drop in respiration rate of the cultured cells. Linear phase cells also showed the highest rate of incorporation of exogeneously supplied tyrosine (>30%) and phenylalanine (>20%) into the caffeoyl ester. These observations indicate that R A biosynthesis in Anchusa officinalis cultures is initiated after the decline of primary metabolism.