Release and crystallization of berberine in the liquid medium of Thalictrum minus cell suspension cultures

Abstract

Cell suspension cultures of Thalictrum minus L. var. hypoleucum Miq. were found to produce a large amount of berberine (400–800 mg/l) when 5–10 μM 6-benzyladenine was added to Linsmaier and Skoog's medium containing 100 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Most of the berberine produced was released continuously from the cells into the liquid medium, and an excess of berberine crystallized as its nitrate in the medium. When the cells were cultured in a modified LS medium containing 20 mM KNO₃ and 40 mM NH₄Cl in place of 20.6 mM NH₄NO₃ as nitrogen source, most of the alkaloid crystallized to form berberine chloride instead of nitrate. Minor alkaloids, thalifendine and magnoflorine, were also isolated from the medium and identified.