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

The effects of 100 and 200 µM 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 µM 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.