Effective release of ginseng saponin from suspension cells of Panax notoginseng

Suspension cells of Panax notoginseng were treated during cultivation with 1-10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to release an intracellular secondary metabolite ginseng saponin. The plant cells adapted to long-term DMSO treatment were enabled to excrete much more ginseng saponin into the medium with their high biological activity compared with those under short-term permeabilization. The highest amount of saponin secreted into the medium reached 136mg/l on day 24 for the cells successively (for 5 subcultures) treated with 1% DMSO.