Enhancement of the productivity of tea (Camellia sinensis) secondary metabolites in cell suspension cultures using pathway inducers

Tea cell suspension culture is an alternative method for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. For the separation of cells, different concentrations of pectinase were used and a concentration of 0.5% was found to be the optimum concentration for the separation of cells (41.7%) in the culture medium than the other two concentrations (33.3 and 25.0%). The separated cells were cultured in liquid MS medium using different PGR combinations. The time taken for the cells to reach stationary phase, under different PGRs, ranged from 17 to 21 d. The maximum cell density was found in IAA and 2, 4-D medium at 21 d followed by 2, 4-D. Results revealed that the amount of secondary metabolites such as catechins were high with stationary phase when compared to other growth phases (lag and log phases). Different concentrations of shikimic acid (10, 20, and 30 mM) were added to the stationary phase of cell culture in the bioreactor and the secondary metabolite content was analyzed. Synthesis of polyphenols, catechins, caffeine, and other secondary components were high (33.87, 22.85, and 4.66%) with 20 mM shikimic acid treatment than the other two concentrations.