Abstract: Calli were induced from the leaves and stems of Cephalotaxus fortunei Hook. f. on MS medium supplemented with 0. 1 mg/L KT and 3 mg/L NAA, and from which the suspension culture cell line of this plant was established for the first time. Factors such as light, pH value of the medium, concentration of plant hormone, carbon resources and addition of substances to the medium, which affect the growth of suspension cells were investigated. The results showed that suspension cells grew appropriately at pH 5.8 with a low concentration of sucrose or glucose, and a low level of NAA. No difference effect on cell growth was seen between sucrose and glucose. Phenylalanine and protein hydrolysate were not suitable for cell growth in suspension cultures, and light inhibited cell growth. A sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for detecting the alkaloids in cultured cells. The results revealed the following contents of cephalotaxine and its anticancer esters in cultured cells: harringtonine, isoharringtonine and homoharringtonine. The total alkaloid production in cell suspension cultures was doubled as that in solid cultures. The relative amounts of cephalotaxine, drupacine, harringtonine, homoharringtonine and isoharringtonine in suspension cells was 22%, 6%, 8%, 23% and 41% respectively. In addition, other alkaloid as deoxyharringtonine and some steroids, including ergdst-5-en-3-ol. stigmasta-5, 22-dien-3-ol, β-sitosterin and 2-naphthalenamine have also been detected in cell cultures using GC/MS combined technique.

Key words: Cephcdotaxus fortunei, Cell suspension culture, Alkaloid, Anticancer activity, Cephalotaxine esters