The role of lipoxygenase (LOX) in the elicitor-induced taxol production of Taxus chinensis cell cultures was studied. Fungal elicitor FS treatment effectively increased LOX activity and taxol production. The LOX activity inhibitor phenidone could inhibit induced LOX activity and taxol production, suggesting that LOX pathway might be involved in elicitor-induced taxol production. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) also activated LOX activity and taxol production. Phenidone could inhibit LOX activity and taxol production challenged by MJ, suggesting that exogenous MJ may induce taxol production via activating the intracellular LOX pathway. For better understanding the role of LOX in T. chinensis, some biochemical features of LOX were also investigated. Results showed that at least 49.18% LOX was associated with membrane and the molecular weight of LOX was 93 kDa. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.