Callus cultures were established from excised embryos of Nothapodytes foetida on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with picloram (2 mg l(-1)) and 3% (w/v) sucrose. The embryos developed into callus after 4 weeks of incubation at 25 +/- 2 degrees C in dark. The cultures produced camptothecine and 9-methoxy-camptothecine as determined by TLC, UV, HPLC, electron spray mass spectral analysis.