PRODUCTION OF ARTEMISININ BY SHOOT CULTURES OF ARTEMISIA-ANNUA L. IN A MODIFIED INNER-LOOP MIST BIOREACTOR

A modified inner-loop ultrasonic nutrient mist bioreactor with three s tainless steel meshes was used to culture shoots of Artemisia annua L. for the production of artemisinin. The distribution of nutrient mist and the characteristics of shoot growth in the bioreactor were observe d. Under the optimal misting cycle of 3/90 (3 min of misting ON, follo wed by 90 min of misting OFF), the dry weight of biomass and artemisin in production in the bioreactor reached 13.3 and 46.9 mg/l after 25 da ys. The growth and artemisinin accumulation in the mist bioreactor wer e higher than those in flasks. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.