Application of Bioreactor systems for

large scale production of

medicinal plants

Ajay Prakash Uniyal

Central university of Punjab
 Introduction
Large scale plant production through cell tissue
and embryo culture using bioreactors.

Bioreactors are described as self-contained,

sterile environment that capitalize on liquid
nutrient or liquid/air inflow and outflow systems.

It is designed for intensive culture and affording

maximal oppurtunity for monitoring and control
over microenvironmental conditions.
 Main classes of culture system
Three main classes of culture system in bioreactors
can be distinguished:
1. Those producing biomass
2. Those producing metabolites and enzymes
3. Those used for biotransformation of exogenously
added metabolites.
Advantage of producing invitro secondary
metabolites
 Controlled supply of biochemicals

 Well defined production systems

 Higher yield and consistent product quality

 Overcome drawback of plant cell culture systems

 Bioreactors design
• Bioreactors are devoted for mass production of cells,
somatic embryos and organogenic propagules.
• There were different reactor configurations for plant
cell suspensions, plant tissue and organ culture.
• The bioreactors are classified by agitation method into:-
a. Mechanically agitated (Stirred tank bioreactor,
rotating tank bioreactor, spin filter bioreactor)
b. Pneumatically agitated (Simple aeration bioreactor,
bubble column bioreactor, air lift bioreactor balloon
type bioreactor)
 Physico-Chemical Parameters
Design and operation of bioreactor are determined by
biological needs and engineering requirements.
Bioreactor operation depend on following no. of
factors
1. Efficient oxygen transfer and mixing
2. Low shear
3. Hydrodynamic forces
4. Effective control of physio-chemical environment
5. Scale up easiness