Large amounts of Morus alba L. (MA) roots are needed as the source of active stilbenes in the industrial production of traditional medicines and cosmeceuticals. A recent investigation demonstrated resveratrol and its derivatives to be promising anti-COVID-19 agents. However, conventional cultivation of MA does not meet the demand for its stilbenes, and root quality usually varies between crops. This study established the in vitro non-GMO root culture of MA and optimized the root density, precursor feeding, and elicitors for stilbene productivity. A root culture with optimal inoculum density (3 g/flask of 30 mL medium) accumulated mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, and resveratrol at 18.7 ± 1.00 mg/g, 136 ± 5.05 µg/g, and 41.6 ± 5.84 µg/g dry weight (DW), respectively. The feeding of L-tyrosine shortened the time required to reach the stilbene productive stage. Root cultures co-treated with 200 µM methyl jasmonate and 2 mg/mL yeast extract accumulated the highest contents of mulberroside A (30.3 ± 2.68 mg/g DW), oxyresveratrol (68.6 ± 3.53 µg/g DW), and resveratrol (10.2 ± 0.53 µg/g DW). In summary, root culture is a promising and sustainable source of stilbenes for the development of health products and agents for further investigation as potential anti-COVID-19 agents.

大量桑白皮L. (MA) 根是传统药物和药妆品工业生产中活性二苯乙烯的来源。最近的一项调查表明，白藜芦醇及其衍生物是有前途的抗 COVID-19 药物。然而，MA的常规栽培不能满足其芪类的需求，并且根系质量通常因作物而异。本研究建立了 MA 的体外非转基因根培养，并优化了根密度、前体喂养和二苯乙烯生产力的诱导子。具有最佳接种密度（每瓶 3​​0 mL 培养基 3 g）的根培养物积累了 18.7 ± 1.00 mg/g、136 ± 5.05 µg/g 和 41.6 ± 5.84 µg/g 干重的桑椹苷 A、氧白藜芦醇和白藜芦醇（ DW），分别。L-酪氨酸的补料缩短了达到芪生产阶段所需的时间。用 200 µM 茉莉酸甲酯和 2 mg/mL 酵母提取物共同处理的根培养物积累了最高含量的桑椹苷 A (30.3 ± 2.68 mg/g DW)、氧白藜芦醇 (68.6 ± 3.53 µg/g DW) 和白藜芦醇 (10.2 ± 0.53 µg/g DW）。总之，根培养是一种有前途且可持续的二苯乙烯来源，可用于开发保健产品和作为潜在抗 COVID-19 药物进一步研究的药物。