Effect of berberine on growth of the callus cultures of several species

A bacteriostatic concentration of berberine much inhibited growth of the callus cultures ofLithospermum erythrorhizon, Datura inooxia andCarthamus tinctorius, but little inhibited the callus growth ofMacleaya cordata. On the other hand, the high concentration of berberine tended to stimulate the callus growth ofCoptis japonica var.japonica. Among callus cultures of the five species described above, 4-desoxypyridoxine inhibited growth of the callus cultures ofD. innoxia andC. tinctorius. In these two callus cultures, recovery effects of some of the vitamin B₆ group (10 μg/ml) on the inhibition of callus growth by berberine (100 μg/ml) or 4-desoxypyridoxine (50 μg/ml) were observed.