Liquid-liquid extraction for recovery of paclitaxel from plant cell culture: solvent evaluation and use of extractants for partitioning and selectivity.

A major challenge in the production of metabolites by plant cells is the separation and purification of a desired product from a number of impurities. An important application of plant cell culture is the biosynthesis of the anticancer agent paclitaxel. Liquid-liquid extraction plays a critical role in the recovery of paclitaxel and other valuable plant-derived products from culture broth.