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Bioreactor systems have been developed for the production of ajmalicine, an alkaloid used in the treatment of hypertension. Cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus produced higher levels of ajmalicine (323 micrograms g-1 dry weight) in a production medium enriched with tryptophan. The cell cultures were grown in medium prepared in tap water and market sugar with a view to minimise the costs of production. Large-scale cultivation of cell suspension was performed in a 20-l airlift bioreactor under controlled conditions. An ajmalicine production of 315 micrograms g-1 dry weight was achieved in the bioreactor after 14 d of cultivation.