Influence of methyl jasmonate and coniferyl alcohol on pinoresinol and matairesinol accumulation in a Forsythia x intermedia suspension culture

The accumulation of the lignans pinoresinol and matairesinol (both predominantly as glucosides) in a Forsythia x intermedia cell suspension culture was enhanced about three- and sevenfold, respectively, by the addition of methyl jasmonate to the cell culture medium. Cells accumulated 0.86+/-0.19 mg/g dry weight pinoresinol and 2.24+/-1.00 mg/g dry weight matairesinol. Feeding experiments with the precursor coniferyl alcohol resulted in a fast increase in the pinoresinol content, but matairesinol accumulation was not influenced. The racemic ratio of pinoresinol was 77+/-4% (+)-pinoresinol in methyl jasmonate-treated cells and 21+/-3% (+)-pinoresinol in cells fed with coniferyl alcohol.