Identification of triterpenoids and flavonoids, step-wise aeration treatment as well as antioxidant capacity of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. cell

In this study, suspension cells of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. have been successfully established. Liquiritin, licorice glycoside B, licorice saponin J2, glycyrrhizic acid and licorice saponin B2 were identified from G. uralensis cells on the basis of LC-MSn analysis. Step-wise aeration treatment was conducted using a 5 l balloon-type bubble bioreactor (BTBB) to enhance cell density and metabolite production. The results showed that step-wise aeration of 0.6-0.4 vvm was optimal for the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins (2.58 mg l−1) and flavonoids (24.33 mg l−1) in G. uralensis cells. Growth kinetics was also conducted with cells at aeration volume of 0.6-0.4 vvm. This study also revealed that G. uralensis cells possessed a similar radical scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test as native licorice had.