Formation of beta-peltatin-A methyl ether and coniferin by root cultures of Linum flavum.

Extracts of root cultures of Linum flavum contained high cytotoxic activity due to the presence of 1% beta-peltatin-A methyl ether of the dry mass. During chromatographic analysis of the cell extracts, coniferin was identified as the major uv-absorbing but noncytotoxic constituent with levels of up to 3% of the dry mass. Growth, culture appearance, and product accumulation varied greatly with the 2,4-D concentration in the medium.