Lignan accumulation in two-phase cultures of Taxus x media hairy roots

The biosynthetic potential for six lignans accumulation in two lines of Taxus x media hairy roots was investigated. The cultures of KT and ATMA hairy root lines were supplemented with precursors: coniferyl alcohol (CA 1, 10 or 100 µM) and/or l-phenylalanine (100 µM PHEN) and/or methyl jasmonate (100 µM MeJa). Moreover the two-phase in vitro cultures supported with perfluorodecalin (PFD) as a gas carrier and in situ extrahent were used. The hairy root lines differed in lignan production profiles. In the control untreated cultures KT roots did not accumulate secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol while ATMA roots did not accumulate matairesinol. In ATMA roots the treatment with CA (1 or 10 µM) resulted in the production of lariciresinol and secoisolariciresinol whereas solely lariciresinol was present after 100 µM CA application. Elicitation with 1 µM CA and MeJa yielded with hydroxymatairesinol aglyca and lariciresinol glucosides with their highest content 37.88 and 3.19 µg/g DW, respectively. The stimulatory effect of simultaneous treatment with 1 µM CA, PHEN and MeJa on lignan production was observed when the cultures were supplemented with PFD-aerated or degassed. In ATMA root cultures these applied conditions were the most favourable for matairesinol content which amounted to 199.86 and 160.25 µg/g DW in PFD-aerated and PFD-degassed supported cultures, respectively. In KT root cultures solely, hydroxymatairesinol and coniferin/CA content was enhanced with their highest yield 59.29 and 134.60 µg/g DW in PFD-aerated and PFD-degassed cultures, respectively.