Total production of harringtonine, homoharringtonine and isoharringtonine in solid cultures of Cephalotaxus fortunei was 1.22 mg/l by periodic oscillation in temperature between 10 and 25 degrees C every 12 h for 45 days. Production was enhanced 1.8 and 1.3-fold compared to the controls at constant temperatures of 10 or 25 degrees C. For suspension cultures subjected to such an oscillation every 24 h for 30 days, total alkaloid production of 0.18 mg/l was achieved, a 2.0 and 1.1-fold improvement compared to the suspension culture controls, correspondingly.