Somaclonal variation in the berberine-producing capability of a culture strain of Thalictrum minus.

Variation in the productivity of berberine between clonal cell lines derived from a culture strain of Thalictrum minus. var. hypoleucum was investigated during the period of successive transfer generations. There was a correlation between berberine productivity and growth in these clonal cultures. Although no significant difference was found in the secretory function as well as the qualitative pattern of alkaloids, there was wide variation in the yield of berberine among the clones. Some of the cell lines have shown a high stability throughout the successive subculturing, whereas the other lines tended to either decrease or increase the productivity continually before they have become more or less stable at low or high levels. After eight months of subculturing, one of the high-producing cell lines yielded 0.76 g of berberine per liter in 14 days of culture strain. In view of variations observed in both primary and secondary clones, the possible cause of the quantitative variation in berberine production in Thalictrum cultures is discussed.

[Atypical conjunctival and tonsillar locations of malacoplakia]. / Localisations atypiques, conjonctivale et amygdalienne de la malakoplakie

Conjunctival and tonsillar sites for malakoplakia have never been previously described. The diagnosis in these presented cases has only been arrived at after elimination of mycosis and parasitic disease. The aetiology remains unknown and the pathophysiology is discussed.