The present study was concentrated on the production of secondary metabolites in callus, cell suspension and hairy roots of Anum majus L. by exposing them to elicitors: benzo(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothionic acid S-methyl ester (BION(R)) and autoclaved lysate of cell suspension of bacteria-Enterobacter sakazaki. GC and GC-MS analysis of chloroform and methanol extracts indicated a higher accumulation of umbelliferone in the elicited tissues than in the control ones. Using GC-MS, two compounds not earlier found in A. majus tissues were identified in callus cultures: scopoletin (7-hydroxy-6-metoxy-2H-1-benzopyron-2-one) and dehydrogeijerin (7-methoxy-6-(3-methyl-1-oxo-2-butenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one). (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.