Abstract

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Maxim. is a rare medicinal and perennial deciduous shrub, which is mainly distributed in vast mountain areas of northeast of China, far eastern region of Russia, Hokkaido area of Japan and Korea. Siberian ginseng is a raw material used to produce medicinal tablet, electuary, injection and ginseng tea. Recently, progresses in somatic embryogenesis of Siberian ginseng were reviewed. This paper investigated the pattern of somatic embryogenesis and physiological and biochemical changing in somatic embryo development, including auxin polar transportation,deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation and metabolic pathways regulation. Bioreactor culture of somatic embryos of Siberian ginseng was also discussed.

Key words: Siberian ginseng, somatic embryogenesis, bioreactor culture, secondary metabolism.

Abbreviation

MS, Murashige and Skoog; 2,4-D, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid; HPLC,high-performance liquid chromatography; MSAP, methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism; SS, squalene synthase; GSH, metabolism of glutathione; SOD, superoxide dismutase; CAT, catalase; GSTs, glutathione S-transferases; GR, glutathione reductase; G-POD, guaiacol peroxidase; APX, ascorbate peroxidase; MDHAR, monodehydroascorbate reductase; DHAR, dehydroascorbate reductase; GSH-Px, glutathione peroxidase; LTB,heat-labile toxin.