Establishment of In Vitro Salvia Cell Biomass for the Controlled Production of Antioxidant Metabolites

Dietary consumption of foods rich in antioxidants has been gathering increasing support in recent years. The project NUTRASNACK (E.C. F.P. 6 contract No FOOD-CT-2005-023044), was developed to increase the antioxidant potential of food snacks. Several Salvia species and genotypes were tested for their total antioxidant content. Three genotypes with the highest antioxidant values were selected (S. officinalis 'SOF1', S. officinalis 'SOF2', and S. officinalis 'SOF3') and leaf explants of in vivo grown plants were cultured on modified MS media supplemented with 2,4-D, Kinetin and NAA in several combinations in order to induce friable callus. Friable green callus developed after five weeks in the presence of medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg L-1 Kinetin. Callus was transferred several times to the same medium, and after three months, liquid primary cultures were established. After filtration, the synchronized cells grew rapidly and the growth parameters such as viability and growth curve in dry and fresh weight gave the essential information for the management of the cultures. The EC 50 of total antioxidant capacity was evaluated during all the growth phases of calli and suspension cultures.