Salvia milthiorrhiza Bunge in vitro cultivation in callus cultures

Salvia milthiorrhiza root (Danshen) is one of the oldest and most traditional drug of chinese origin, mainly used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. the tanshiniones (diterpenoids) and phenolic acids are the main biological active substances of S. miltiorrhiza. the aim of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for callus cultures and biosynthesis of the biological active compounds. the callus cultures (on solid medium, ccA in shake flask and ccA in bioreactor) were obtained and phytochemical studies on them were carried out. total amount of phenolic acids determined in callus (solid medium) averaged from 2.58% to 5.72% of dry weight (DW). the callus cultured on solid medium and ccA (in flasks) did not produce tanshiniones. culture conditions in the bioreactor enabled the biosynthesis of tanshiniones (0.27% of dihydrotanshinione, 0.12% of cryptotanshinone, 0.01% of tanshinione 2A and tanshinione 1). the obtained contents of rosmarinic acid in callus on solid medium and ccA (cultured in shake flasks) are relatively high and comparable to raw material. the callus cultured in bioreactor is eligible for tanshinione production, moreover the accumulation of them is comparable with the intact plants.