The suspension culture of Tripterygium wilfordii.

In suspension culturing of Tripterygium wilfordii, 18.4 mg/l of dry cells and 9.184 mg/l of diterpene-lactone compounds were obtained from 6,7-V liquid medium containing 1 mg/l NAA. Besides those within the cells, diterpene-lactone compounds were also found in the cultured liquid and the yield reached 30.16-43.14% of the total yield. The total yield of diterpene-lactone compounds in suspension culture (6,7-V medium containing 1 mg/l NAA) was 12.19 times as much as that in the roots of the original plant. In addition, 3 samples of diterpene-lactone extracts from the suspension culture were found toxic to KB cells. Compared with those in solid culture, less incubation time was needed and more diterpene-lactone compounds were produced in suspension culture.