Improving image-tocopherol production in plant cell cultures

Suspension cell cultures of Helianthus annuus L. were previously established for the production of the most active component of vitamin E, image-tocopherol, by optimizing medium composition and culture conditions. In the present work, the possibility of enhancing image-tocopherol production by the addition of jasmonic acid to the culture medium was investigated both in sunflower and Arabidopsis cell cultures. A considerable increase (49% and 66%, respectively) of image-tocopherol production was obtained in both, after a 72-h treatment with 5 μM jasmonic acid. The modulation of image-tocopherol levels in plant cell cultures can provide useful hints for a regulatory impact on tocopherol metabolism.