Cultivation of cell cultures of Berberis wilsonae in 20-l airlift bioreactors

Suspension cultures of Berberis wilsonae produce 4 berberine-type alkaloids: berberine, palmatine, columbamine and jatrorrhizine. In particular the formation of the phenolic alkaloids columbamine and jatrorrhizine and of berberine proves to be dependent on the concentration of dissolved oxygen. With higher aeration rates, berberine and jatrorrhizine yields can be increased considerably. Thus we reached an alkaloid yield of more than 3 g × 1^–1 with 50% dissolved oxygen tension in the medium. As far as we know this is one of the best results in fermenting of alkaloid-producing cell cultures.Abbreviations pO₂ dissolved oxygen concentration in % saturation (using air) - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - vvm volume air × volume medium^–1 × minute^–1 - rpm revolutions per minute - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid