Study on Oscillatory Behavior and Dynamic Release of Alkaloids of Cultured Cαthαrαnthus roseus Cells

Department of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China

Manuscript received 16 January 1997, revised 7 August 1997, accepted 5 March 1998

During the growth of Cαthαrαnthus roseus cells, the extracellular pH, along with the both intracellular and extracellular alkaloid contents, oscillate under both long-term and short-term sampling. This study investigates the possibility of manipulating the extracellular pH to induce the release of intracellularly retained alkaloids. The results show that shifting the pH leads to a dynamic release of intncellular alkaloids of C. roseus cells, and meanwhile has no harmful effects on alkaloid syntfiesis of C. roseus cells. Lowering the pH can thus be an means to strengthen the release of intraceilular alkaloids in large quantities.