Two-phase culture for enhanced alkaloid synthesis and release in a new airlift reactor by Catharanthus roseus

A new airlift reactor was used to culture Catharanthus roseus cells, in whi ch the draft tube was made up of polyurethane foam and acted as the immobil izing matrix. The reactor was connected in series to an adsorbent column wi th a neutral polymeric resin which absorbs these alkaloids. The synthesis o f alkaloid was stimulated by adding the resin column and the total content of alkaloid secreted by cells reached 380 mg/L, which was 4.5 times of that in the control experiment. Meanwhile, most of the intracellular alkaloid p roduced by Catharanthus roseus was secreted into the medium.