Two-stage culture for producing berberine by cell suspension and shoot cultures of Berberis buxifolia Lam

In vitro cultures of Berberis buxifolia were established using thidiazuron (4.5, 23 and 45 mM) or picloram (4 and 40 mM) as plant growth regulators for sustaining growth. For producing berberine, a two-stage culture was performed. In the first step, thidiazuron or picloram were used for biomass production followed by the production stage where benzylaminopurine (4.4 mM) was added as a plant growth regulator. Berberine yields (102 mg g-1 DW) and in vitro shoot cultures (200 mg g-1 DW) were significantly lower than those of whole plants in the field (416 mg g-1 DW). The highest productivity (0.18 mg 1-1 day-1) was attained using picloram (either 4 on 40 mM) in the first stage for producing biomass. Fil: Alvarez, María A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología "Dr. César Milstein". Fundación Pablo Cassará. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología "Dr. César Milstein"; Argentina Fil: Fernandez Eraso, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres". Grupo Vinculado al INGEBI- Laboratorio de Biocatálisis y Biotransformaciones - LBB - UNQUI; Argentina