The paper examines the effect of linoleic acid in various concentrations on the production of flavonoids in an Ononis arvensis culture in vitro and the production of anthracene derivatives in a Rheum palmatum culture in vitro. The content of the metabolites under study after elicitation with linoleic acid, which is the precursor of jasminic acid intervening into the course of elicitation, was examined after 12; 24; 48 and 168 hours. The maximal increase in the content of flavonoids (118 %) was found after the application of linoleic acid in a concentration of 2 mg/ml after 48 hrs. In concentrations of 0.01; 0.20, and 1 mg/ml after 48 hours of application of the elicitor, the highest increase in the content of flavonoids was observed after 24 hrs in a concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. In the elicitation of the Rheum palmatum culture, the highest response (100 %) in the production of anthracene derivatives was observed in linoleic acid in a concentration of 1 mg/ml.

        Key words: elicitor – flavonoids – anthracene derivatives – Rheum palmatum – Ononis arvensis