Cryopreservation of Scutellaria baicalensis Cells by Two-step Cooling Method

A two-step cooling technique has been developed for cryopreservation of suspension cultured Scutellaria baicalensis cells. Efficient regrowth of cryopreserved cells was obtained in cryoprotected cells with a mixture of 1.5 M glycerol and 0.4 M sucrose in Schenk and Hildebrandt medium without pretreatment in high osmotic medium. Optimum freezing conditions were found to be a cooling rate of 0.5 degrees C/min from 4 degrees C to -40 degrees C, and then retaining samples at -40 degrees C for 30 min prior to plunging into liquid nitrogen. A regrowth rate of approximately 95% was obtained after three month storage in liquid nitrogen. Callus cultures established from the cryopreserved cells were found to produce the same patterns of flavonoid accumulation and retain their baicalin producing activity.