Abstract
Previously, our group reported the establishment of a white callus cell line of Buddleja cordata Kunth that is a high producer of the secondary metabolite, verbascoside (VB, also named acteoside), under suspension culture conditions. Here, we present experimental evidence of the sustained ability of that cellular line to grow and produce high amounts of VB for 5 years of continuous culture. Cellular line profiles were determined at the early (at the beginning) and late stages (at the end of 5 years of continuous subculturing) by analyzing relevant parameters of culture growth, i.e., specific growth rate [µ], doubling time [dt], and growth index [GI], as well as VB production. Late-stage cultures exhibited a 61% faster growth rate than early-stage subcultures, and 25 and 3% lower doubling time and growth index. The extents of growth phases were found to be different. Similar amounts of biomass were found (9.5 g and 9.4 g L(-1)). Verbascoside production increased parallel to cell growth; maximal yield level occurred in the mid-exponential phase and lasted until the end of the stationary phase (i.e., from the 15th to the 25th day and from the 9th to the 21st day for the early and late stages, correspondingly). The content of VB was higher in the late-stage culture (1.43 ± 0945 g L(-1)) than in the early-stage culture (1.21 ± 0.0286 g L(-1)). Productivity values point out the potential use of B. cordata cell line in the biotechnological production of VB and for research focused on the biochemistry of secondary metabolism.