Work

Effects of LEDs , macronutrients and culture conditions on biomass and artemisinin production using Artemisia annua L . suspension cultures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. (sweet wormwood). It has traditionally been utilized in artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs) for the malarial parasite, including drug‐resistant strains. Natural artemisinin extraction is costly with low yields. Due to its effectiveness, there is a significant rise in the demand for artemisinin production. In vitro cell suspension culture offers a cost‐effective and viable technique for artemisinin production. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize a protocol for cell suspension culture of A. annua L. to enhance biomass and artemisinin production. A successful cell suspension culture was initiated from induced callus. The highest cell biomass was obtained in suspension cultures grown with an initial inoculum size of 0.1 g of mixed type cell aggregates, in media with a pH of 6.2 and a rotation speed of 90 rpm. Macronutrient concentrations influenced both biomass and artemisinin content, with optimal biomass achieved at 19 mM KNO3 and 1.56 mM KH2PO4. The absence of these nutrients resulted in the highest artemisinin levels. Different LED wavelengths also significantly influenced biomass and artemisinin production. Red + blue LED increased cell biomass, while the highest artemisinin content was observed under red LED. The upscaling of the culture indicated a variation in biomass yield pattern, but the highest growth index was achieved in the 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask. This study successfully established a cell suspension culture for A. annua L., demonstrating the influence of macronutrients and red LED on biomass and artemisinin production, providing insights for potential large‐scale production.

Source: Biotechnology Progress

DOI: 10.1002/btpr.70041