Establishment of a sanguinarine-producing cell suspension culture of Argemone mexicana L (Papaveraceae): induction of alkaloid accumulation.

A protocol for the induction of a cell suspension culture of Argemone mexicana is described. This suspension has been kept for over 3 years producing sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine-type alkaloid. Sanguinarine levels can be increased by exposing these cultures to yeast or fungal elicitation.