The establishment of Polygala paniculata L. tissue culture allowed a rapid propagation of raw plant material under
aseptic and standardized conditions. Plantlets were subjected to simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) and volatiles
composition analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The effect of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) on in vitro development and
volatiles production was evaluated. The main feature of volatile compounds was the significant amount of methyl
salicylate. Plantlets cultured on control MS (Murashige & Skoog) medium showed more than 80% of salicylate, while
the addition of BAP at 2 and 4 mg L-1 concentrations reduced methyl salicylate production to 71% and 21%, respectively.
Tissue culture of P. paniculata proved to be a potential source of methyl salicylate.