Polysaccharides from Melittis melissophyllum L. herb and callus

For comparison of the water-soluble polysaccharides from Melittis melissoph yllum L. herb with that produced by Melittis callus cultures the polymeric carbohydrates were extracted from both sources, fractionated by IEC and GPC and the respective fractions analysed concerning sugar composition and lin kage characteristics. The dominant structures found in all fractions isolat ed from herb material and callus were type-II arabinogalactans with a (1 -- > 3)-galactose backbone and arabinose-galactose side chains. No significant differences were found between herb and callus polysaccharides. To optimiz e the Melittis cell culture systems the culture media were varried systemat ically. A modified Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with GA(3), NA A and BAP was found to be most suitable for large-scale production of callu s material.