title: Plant cell cultures: bioreactors for industrial production.
abstract: The recent biotechnology boom has triggered increased interest in plant cell cultures, since a number of firms and academic institutions investigated intensively to rise the production of very promising bioactive compounds. In alternative to wild collection or plant cultivation, the production of useful and valuable secondary metabolites in large bioreactors is an attractive proposal; it should contribute significantly to future attempts to preserve global biodiversity and alleviate associated ecological problems. The advantages of such processes include the controlled production according to demand and a reduced man work requirement. Plant cells have been grown in different shape bioreactors, however, there are a variety of problems to be solved before this technology can be adopted on a wide scale for the production of useful plant secondary metabolites. There are different factors affecting the culture growth and secondary metabolite production in bioreactors: the gaseous atmosphere, oxygen supply and CO2 exchange, pH, minerals, carbohydrates, growth regulators, the liquid medium rheology and cell density. Moreover agitation systems and sterilization conditions may negatively influence the whole process. Many types ofbioreactors have been successfully used for cultivating transformed root cultures, depending on both different aeration system and nutrient supply. Several examples of medicinal and aromatic plant cultures were here summarized for the scale up cultivation in bioreactors.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Floriculture and Ornamental Species, CRA-Agricultural Research Council, Sanremo, Italy. b.ruffoni@istflori.it
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruffoni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pistelli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoli
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pistelli
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D030024:Curcuma / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000379:methods*; D020900:Echinacea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D027543:Salvia officinalis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts