Effect of major inorganic nutrients on β-thujaplicin production in a suspension culture of Cupressus lusitanica cells

The optimum conditions for β-thujaplicin production in a Cupressus lusitanica cell suspension culture were investigated. The conditions required for β-thujaplicin production were clearly different from the conditions for cell growth. The initial phosphate concentration and pH did not affect β-thujaplicin production. A total nitrogen source concentration higher than 3.2mM suppressed production due to the presence of the ammonium ion. β-Thujaplicin production was observed at 95mg/l without adding the ammonium ion to the medium. Strict control of major inorganic nutrients was not necessary to produce β-thujaplicin. This finding seems to be favorable for future automated production of β3-thujaplicin in commercial cell culture plants.