Polysaccharides from Melittis melissophyllum L. herb and callus.

For comparison of the water-soluble polysaccharides from Melittis melissophyllum L. herb with that produced by Melittis callus cultures the polymeric carbohydrates were extracted from both sources, fractionated by IEC and GPC and the respective fractions analysed concerning sugar composition and linkage characteristics. The dominant structures found in all fractions isolated from herb material and callus were type-II arabinogalactans with a (1-->3)-galactose backbone and arabinose-galactose side chains. No significant differences were found between herb and callus polysaccharides. To optimize the Melittis cell culture systems the culture media were varried systematically. A modified Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with GA3, NAA and BAP was found to be most suitable for large-scale production of callus material.