Paclitaxel and baccatin III production induced by methyl jasmonate in free and immobilized cells of Taxus baccata

The effects of 100 and 200 mu M methyl jasmonate (MJA) on cell proliferation and paclitaxel and baccatin III production were investigated in free and alginate immobilized cells of Taxus baccata growing in a selected product formation culture medium. The greatest accumulation of paclitaxel (13.20 mg dm(-3)) and baccatin III (4.62 mg dm(-3)) occurred when 100 mu M MJA was added to the culture medium of cells entrapped using a 1.5 and 2.5 % alginate solution. The effects of different treatments on the viability of cultured cells and their capacity to excrete both taxanes into the surrounding medium were considered.