The Production of Anti-cancer Substances by in vitro Grown Cultures of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is important medicinal plant but requires 4-year cultivation for root harvest because of slow growth. In contrast, ginseng callus and hairy roots grow vigorously and may Produce the same or more biologically active compounds for human health than natural ginseng roots. Therefore, ginseng callus and hairy roots can be used for commercial purposes. Polyacetylene, one of anti-cancer compounds in ginseng, was not detected in the callus cultured on the medium containing 2, 4-B, but cells derived from the callus growth was excellent, The ginseng calli cultured on the medium containing 2mg11 CPA and 0.05mg/1 BA was grown vigorously and produced panaxydol, one of ginseng polyacetylene. The biosynthesis of polyacetylene in callus was not affected by addition of NAA and sucrose in media. The SH medium was better than the MS medium for ginseng callus growth and biosynthesis of panaxydol. Another ginseng anti-cancer compounds, ginsenoside-Rg$_3$, Rh$_1$and Rh$_2$ were detected in ginseng hairy roots by heat treatment. Those of Panax ginseng were obtained after root disks of three-year old roots were infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes Rl000 $A_4$T in dark condition after one month of culture. The optimum growth of hairy roots was achieved in the culture of 1/2 MS liquid medium in dark(22$^{\circ}C$) under 60 rpm gyratory shaking. Hairy roots grew well in 5 ι Erlenmeyer flasks, 1ι roller drums, 10ι jar-fermenters, and especially in 20ι air-lift .culture vessels. All heat treatments had remarkably different ginsenoside contents. Eleven ginsenosides were determined in heat treatment, eight in freeze dried hairy roots. Contents of ginsenoside-Rbl , Rb2, Rc, Rd. Re, Rf, and Rg$_1$tested in all heat treatments were less than those of freeze dried hairy roots. Contents of glnsenoside-Rg$_2$ in heat treatment for 1 hour at 105$^{\circ}C$ was 4.92mg/g dry wt, 3.9 times higher than 1.27 mg/g dry wt of freeze dried hairy roots. The optimum condition of heat treatment for the production of ginsenoside-Rg$_3$and Rhl was 2 hours at 105$^{\circ}C$, and ginsenoside content was 2.58mg/g dry wt and 3.62mg/g dry wt, respectively. The production of ginsenoside-Rh2 was the highest in heat treatment for 2 hours at 105$^{\circ}C$ among treatments examined, and ginsenoside-Rh$_2$content was 1.08mg/g dry wt.