In this work we examined the chemical elicitors streptomycin, activated charcoal and ethephon, and the elicitor-like effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HP) on plant cells with respect to the induction of plant defense responses and secondary metabolites production. The effects of HP and elicitors on growth and secondary metabolism, particularly anthocyanins and phenolic acids synthesis, accumulation in cells and exudation into the cultivation medium were investigated by using suspension culture of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Gamay Freaux as a model system. Anthocyanins were measured by spectrophotometer and phenolic acids were determined by HPLC. The compounds were identified by LC-MS and NMR. After the treatments with HP and elicitors, the concentrations of phenolic acids in culture medium were higher than in the control, without loss of biomass, while the production of anthocyanins from cells was not affected. The combination of HP and ethephon treatment improved secondary metabolites formation. Production levels of extracellular phenolic acids and 3-O-glucosyl-resveratrol were increased by HP and ethephon treatments. The results show that HP induced a defense response of plant cells and may have altered the cell/membrane's properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.