Papaver somniferum cell suspension cultures carried out in shake flasks were elicited with chitin under batch and nutrient feeding conditions to increase sanguinarine production. Batch cultures yielded maximum production of 270 mg l−1 upon elicitation during exponential growth phase at extracellular phosphate depletion. The addition of concentrated medium solutions prior to elicitation of stationary phase cultures allowed a modest increase in production to 350 mg l−1. Further optimization of the nutrient solution yielded production of 575 mg l−1. Examination of the composition of this nutrient solution showed an absolute requirement of elicited cultures for the presence of carbohydrates, phosphate and sulfate during fedbatch additions for maximum sanguinarine production.