The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)is still a source for isolation of codeine and morphine. Cell cultures from this plant lose their ability to produce morphinans.Their major alkaloid is sanguinarine.The elicitation of the opium poppy cell cultures by fungal preparation lead to a nine-fold increase in the content of sanguinarine.The specific activity of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) was three-times higher in the elicited compared to the nonelicited cells.Two isoforms of PPO (Mr 63 kDa,41 kDa)were identified in opiumpoppy cell cultures by PAGE.The number of PPO isoforms was not affected by elicitation.Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B was used for affinity purification of PPO. In a single purification step the specific activity of PPO was enriched 14-fold.

        Key words: Papaver somniferum L.– polyphenoloxidase –sanguinarine – suspension cultures –elicitation