1Natural Products Laboratory, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, Andhra Pradesh, India
2Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500 007, Andhra Pradesh, India
3Department of Botany, Telangana University, Nizamabad, 503 002, Andhra Pradesh, India
4Department of Botany, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, 585 106, Andhra Pradesh, India
5Genomix Molecular Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500 072, Andhra Pradesh, India
Berberine, an isoquinolene alkaloid, together with its related analogs protoberberine and palmatine were detected in cell suspension cultures derived from leaf explants of Tinospora cordifolia. Maximum production of biomass (9.9 g dry cell wt/l) was noticed on day 36 while berberine was highest (5.5 mg/g dry weight) at day 24. Media pH, plant growth regulators and carbon sources were optimized for biomass and accumulation of berberine in Linsmaier and Skoog's medium. Out of 8 cell lines selected, only one line accumulated high berberine (13.9 mg/g dry wt) in 4-weeks. While cell aggregates of 500 μm in diameter promoted production of biomass (9.6 g dry cell wt/l), larger cell aggregates (above 500 μm) favoured berberine accumulation with 3.8 mg/g dry weight of tissue. The yield of berberine in cell suspensions of Tinospora was 5-14-folds higher than that of intact plants.
Berberine, suspension cultures, Tinospora cordifolia.
