OBJECTIVETo study the biotransformation of arbutin by 4-hydroxy phenol in hairy root of Polygonum multiflorum.

METHOD4-hydroxy phenol was used as substrate, the standard curve was made by HPLC, and the influences of the co-culture time, the concentration of substrate added and the volume of culture flasks on biotransformation of arbutin were measured by the index of the production yield and transform rate of arbutin.

RESULTArbutin could be detected from both of the cultures and medium. The correlation curve of arbutin: Y = 440740X - 1.473 (r = 0.9997). The production yield (2.22 g x L(-1)) and conversion ratio (81.45%) of arbutin reached the maximum amount as co-culture time at 72 h, substrate added in medium for 1100 mg x L(-1). Furthermore a large-scale culture of 3 L was also successful in our experiment.

CONCLUSIONIt was firstly to biosynthesis arbutin in hairy root of P. multiflorum. The production yield and trasfer rate of arbutin were increased largely. And large-scale production (3 L culture flask) of arbutin was achieved in the experiment and it would be valuable for the industrial production of arbutin by biotechnological method in the future.