Role of malic acid in solubilizing excess berberine accumulating in vacuoles of Coptis japonica
1992
Sato, H. | Taguchi, G. | Fukui, H. | Tabata, M.
The capability of cultured cells of Coptis japonica for accumulating a supersaturated solution of berberine (more than 70 mM) in vacuoles was investigated in relation to the solubility of various berberine salts. The results of experiments showed that the solubility of berberine is dependent on its paired anion, varying from 3 mM for nitrate to 640 mM for malate, suggesting that a high concentration of malic acid (168 mM) found in the vacuole greatly contributes to the formation of a highly water-soluble salt of berberine. The production of berberine in cultured cells was accompanied by a steady increase of malic acid during the entire culture period. The present study has demonstrated an important role of a specific organic acid in solubilizing an excess of quarternary alkaloid in the vacuole.
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