Chitosan elicits mono-glucosylated stilbene production and release in fed-batch bioreactor cultures of grape cells

The present paper reports the study of the optimal conditions for grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Barbera) cell suspensions in batch and fed-batch bioreactor cultures, in order to specifically improve the production of mono-glucosylated stilbenes, which are resveratrol derivatives. These compounds are physiologically as active as free resveratrol in cardio- and chemoprotection, but are more stable and bioavailable after ingestion through diet. In fed-batch conditions the production of mono-glucosides was considerably increased together with that of free resveratrol. For the first time, an elicitor (chitosan) was tested in a bioreactor system, demonstrating its efficacy in inducing the production of stilbenes. The bioreactor culture conditions also allowed the accumulation of other polyphenols, such as catechins. The vast majority of the produced compounds was released into the culture media, which represents a relevant advantage for the recovery of specific molecules or of polyphenol-enriched mixtures. These results represent a further step toward the employment of grape cells in fed-batch cultures, as a promising alternative to whole plant extraction for the industrial production of plant polyphenols, considering the necessity for developing sustainable processes.