Differential patterns of dehydroabietic acid biotransformation by Nicotiana tabacum and Catharanthus roseus cells

► Plant cells were used in bioconversion studies of dehydroabietic acid (DHA). ► Metabolic changes in plant cells during bioconversion were monitored by NMR. ► Tobacco and periwinkle exhibited different bioconversion pattern of DHA. ► New insights in xenobiotic detoxification in plant cells were generated.