Liquid Perfluorodecalin Application for In Situ Extraction and Enhanced Naphthoquinones Production in Arnebia euchroma Cell Suspension Cultures

Suspension cultures of Arnebia euchroma supported with liquid perfluorodecalin (PFD) degassed, aerated, or ethylene-saturated were investigated as a novel in situ extraction system for enhanced alkannin/shikonin production. Simultaneously, the effect of PFD applied as the liquid gas carrier on the growth of A. euchroma biomass was studied. The similar dry (4-fold) and fresh (7-fold) biomass increase was observed in the control (without PFD addition) and supplemented with PFD-degassed or PFD-aerated cultures while PFD-ethylene application impeded cell growth. The highest total of alkannin/shikonin production (23.23 mg flask(−1)) was observed when PFD-aerated has been used and it resulted in about 50 % higher yield of alkannin/shikonin compared with the control culture. Chiral HPLC analysis revealed that in cultures supported with PFD, both alkannin and shikonin were produced. Their mutual ratio varied depending on culture conditions, and the accumulation of alkannin prevailed under almost all culture conditions. PFD has proved to be exceptionally efficient and cell-safe solvent for the in situ extraction of naphthoquinone red pigments without exerting any detrimental effects on cell growth. Extracellularly secreted red naphthoquinones were easily dissolved and extracted from the PFD phase, which can be regenerated and reused (e.g., in continuous culture system).