The production of imperatorin from angelica dahurica var Formosana by cell suspension culture

Abstract

Bai-Zhi (Angelica dahurica) is a valuable medicinal plant used as source of curatives for headache and skin disease in China. The purpose of this study was to establish cell suspension culture as alternative source of imperatorin, the major active ingredient of the species. The formulation of MS basic salts, modified by increasing the phosphate concentration to 2 mM and using an ammonium to nitrate ratio of 2:1, provided the best imperatorin production. Glucose was a better carbon source than sucrose and fructose. The addition of 0.5-1 mg/l of BA to the culture medium increased imperatorin yield, whereas auxins produced only negative effects. Supplementing the medium with 20g/l of the adsorbent Amberlite XAD-7 increased imperatorin yield 140-fold.