Biotransformation of Monoterpenoids by Suspension Cultures of Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract

Callus and suspension cultures of <em>Lavandula angustifolia</em> Mill. (Lamiaceae) were established and the effect of different culture media on growth rate was investigated. Terpenoids added to suspension culture to investigate their biotrans-formation. All samples were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectroscopy (MS). Octan-1-ol, citronellol, linalool, borneol and geraniol were biotransformed products of octanal, citronellal, linalyl acetate, bornyl acetate and geranyl acetate, respectively. Citronellol, linalool, borneol, and menthol didn't change by <em>L. angustifolia</em> suspension cultures. Blue pigment production by cultures of <em>L. angustifolia</em> was also studied. Ester hydrolysis and oxidation were the main reactions which occurred in biotransformation process, which may be attributed to the presence of related or bifunctional enzymes. This technique is a possible way of the production of expensive or rare compounds from cheap and plentiful substrates.