• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.609-614
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• 2000

Suspension cultures of Camptotheca acuminata, which is known to produce the anticancer indole alkaloid camptothecin and its derivatives, were made to increase camptothecin production. The capability of camptothecin production in suspended cells is decreased by repeated subculturein. Aggregated cells produced more camptothecin than single cells. Optimal cell aggregation was achieved in hybrid medium supplemented with 4% sucrose. Aggregated cells in hybrid medium with 4% sucrose produced $18.04{\times}10^{-4} mg/L$ of camptothecin. The control of shaking speeds was effective at inducing cell aggregation and camptothecin production. A shaking speed of 100 rpm was found optimum to increase the cell aggregation with a camptothecin production of $19.4{\times}10^{-4} mg/L$.