[Cell cultured of Macleaya cordata--a producer of antimicrobial benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids].

It was shown that a suspension culture of Macleaya cordata accumulated benzo(c)phenanthridine alkaloids in the cell biomass. By the composition of the alkaloids and their content the cell culture markedly differed from the intact plant and callus tissue. The benzo(c)phenanthridine compounds in the cell culture were mainly represented by the reduced forms: dihydrosanquinarin and dihydrochelirubin. In the green plant they were mainly represented by the oxidized forms: sanquinarin and chelerithrin. The cell culture practically contained no chelerithrin characteristic of the intact plant.