The sedative triterpene, galphimine B (1), was detected in cell suspension-batch cultures of Galphimia glauca. The effect of inoculum size, growth regulators and different concentrations of sucrose, nitrates and phosphates was evaluated. A two-stage batch process for biomass production and accumulation of compound I was established. Major cellular growth (15 g l(-1) dry wt) was obtained in the first stage with naphthaleneacetic acid (2 mg l(-1)) + kinetin (2 mg l(-1)). Adding 4 mg 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic l(-1) acid in the second stage resulted in the highest accumulation of 1 (0.21 mg g(-1) dry wt) which was 36% higher with respect to calluses and comparable to that obtained from wild plants.