BISBENZYLISOQUINOLINE ALKALOIDS IN BERBERIS CELL CULTURES

Abstract

Callus cultures of 34 Berberís celllines representing 33 species were screened for alkaloids using TLC and HPLC. Jatrorrhizine was always found to be a major constituent; two B. stolonifera lines were the richest in bisbenzylisoquinolines. The new alkaloid 2-norberbamunine was isolated from cultures of B. stolonifera V29 together with berbamunine, aromoline, berbamine, isotetrandrine and jatrorrhizine. The time course of bisbenzylisoquinoline accumulation was studied in B. stolonifera V29 suspension cultures and it was found that the concentrations of these alkaloids rose throughout the cell growth phase.