Biological activity of extracts fromCupressus lusitanica cell culture

Ethyl acetate extracts ofCupressus lusitanica suspension cell cultures were examined for their biological activities (viz., tyrosinase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities). The extract from elicitor-treated cells showed all of the biological activities, whereas the extract from cultures without elicitor was not bioactive to a discernible extent. The biological activities shown by the cell culture extracts were almost solely accounted for by-thuj aplicin contained in the extracts. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate extract ofC. lusitanica cells treated with the elicitor is a valuable bioactive source without isolation or purification of-thujaplicin.