The cells are harvested by simple filtration, and shikonin and shikonin derivatives are extracted. A 750 1 bioreactor with 600 1 medium would yield 1.2 kg of shikonin in 2 weeks. In contrast, Lithospermum roots from 1 ha land would yield about 9 kg shikonin after 4 years.
Thus 8 runs of 2 weeks of the bioreactor become equivalent to 4 years of a 1 ha field of L. erythrorhizon in terms of shikonin yields. Cell culture derived shikonin has been used in Japan since 1984 in the manufacture of cosmetics, lotion and soap.
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