Abstract: This invention provides methods whereby taxol, baccatin III, and other taxol-like compounds, or taxanes, can be produced in very high yield from all known Taxus species, e.g., brevifolia, canadensis, cuspidata, baccata, globosa, floridana, wallichiana, media and chinensis. Particular modifications of culture conditions (i.e., media composition and operating modes) have been discovered to enhance the yield of various taxanes from cell culture of all species of Taxus. Particularly preferred enhancement agents include silver ion or complex, jasmonic acid (especially the methyl ester), auxin-related growth regulators, and inhibitors of the phenylpropanoid pathway, such as 3,4-methylenedioxy-6-nitrocinnamic acid. These enhancement agents may be used alone or in combination with one another or other yield-enhancing conditions. While the yield of taxanes from plant cell culture of T.

Abstract: This invention provides methods whereby taxol, baccatin III, and other taxol-like compounds, or taxanes, can be produced in very high yield from all known Taxus species, e.g., brevifolia, canadensis, cuspidata, baccata, globosa, floridana, wallichiana, media and chinensis. Particular modifications of culture conditions (i.e., media composition and operating modes) have been discovered to enhance the yield of various taxanes from cell culture of all species of Taxus. Particularly preferred enhancement agents include silver ion or complex, jasmonic acid (especially the methyl ester), auxin-related growth regulators, and inhibitors of the phenylpropanoid pathway, such as 3,4-methylenedioxy-6-nitrocinnamic acid. These enhancement agents may be used alone or in combination with one another or other yield-enhancing conditions. While the yield of taxanes from plant cell culture of T.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for cryopreserving plant cells and to methods for recovering viable plant cells from long or short term cryopreservation. Plant cells to be cryopreserved can be grown in culture and pretreated with a solution containing an cryoprotective agent and, optionally, a stabilizer. Stabilizers are preferably membrane stabilizers such as ethylene inhibitors, oxygen radical scavengers and divalent cations. Cells can also be stabilized by subjecting the culture to a heat shock. Pretreated cells are acclimated to a reduced temperature and loaded with a cryoprotective agent such as DMSO, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. Loaded cells are incubated with a vitrification solution which, for example, comprises a solution with a high concentration of the cryoprotective agent.

Abstract: There is disclosed a topical composition having substantially undifferentiated plant seed cells and, preferably, a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle. There is also a method for topically applying the composition. There are also methods for delivering a consistent level of an active to skin, nail, lips and/or hair and for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of a topical composition having substantially undifferentiated plant seed cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for cryopreserving plant cells and to methods for recovering viable plant cells from long or short term cryopreservation. Plant cells to be cryopreserved can be grown in culture and pretreated with a solution containing an cryoprotective agent and, optionally, a stabilizer. Stabilizers are preferably membrane stabilizers such as ethylene inhibitors, oxygen radical scavengers and divalent cations. Cells can also be stabilized by subjecting the culture to a heat shock. Pretreated cells are acclimated to a reduced temperature and loaded with a cryoprotective agent such as DMSO, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. Loaded cells are incubated with a vitrification solution which, for example, comprises a solution with a high concentration of the cryoprotective agent.