Increasing diosmin production in a suspension culture of Scrophularia striata Boiss. Using fungal extracts in a bioreactor

Diosmin is a flavonoid glycoside renowned for its potent antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. However, its natural abundance is limited, necessitating efficient production strategies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Piriformospora indica mycelium extract as a biotic elicitor to enhance the biosynthesis of diosmin and other polyphenolic compounds in Scrophularia striata cell suspension cultures, comparing the efficiency of shake-flask and bioreactor systems. P. indica mycelium extract (250 mg l − 1 ) was applied at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, and 2% to 10-day-old cell cultures and the cells were harvested on 15th d. The optimal concentration was subsequently utilized for elicitation in bioreactor to assess the scalability of the production. Elicitation significantly modulated the metabolic profile of S. striata . In the bioreactor system, the 1% (v/v) extract treatment led to a significant 3.03-fold increase in diosmin accumulation compared to the control. Furthermore, the diosmin yield in the bioreactor was approximately 77-fold higher than that observed in shake-flask cultures. Other flavonoids and stilbenoids, such as resveratrol, also showed increased accumulation, although a reduction in total biomass was observed in response to the elicitor. These findings demonstrate that P. indica mycelium extract is a potent elicitor for the enrichment of diosmin in S. striata . The bioreactor system provided a significantly higher diosmin yield compared to shake-flask cultures under the tested conditions, suggesting its potential for further development in the production of this high-value compound.