Improved growth and taxol yield in developing calli of Taxus cuspidata by medium composition modification.

Cell culture of Taxus spp. represents a potential alternative source of taxol and related taxanes used in cancer chemotherapy. We have analyzed the effect of different culture media components on growth and production of taxol in developing callus cultures of T. cuspidata. Several sequential modifications were made to the basal B5 medium, which included addition and/or variation in the concentration of sucrose, B5 organic supplements, gibberellic acid, 36 combinations of 2,4-D/kinetin ratios, media salts and organic supplements, phenylalanine, casein hydrolysate and medium pH. The experiments were conducted during a 55 day-growth period followed by taxane extraction and analysis. Significant increases in taxol yield and growth over basal medium grown calli were observed with some of the modified media.