In vitro plant cell cultures have been considered as an alternative for biocompounds production; however the change of shake flask to stirred-tank bioreactor, in view to scale up the process, brings difficulties related to decrease of productivity. The aim of this work was evaluate the effect of change of shake flask to stirred-tank bench bioreactor on the performance of cultures of Thevetia peruviana. Maximum cell growth of 18.59 g DW/l and 8.46 g DW/l for shake flask and bench bioreactor, respectively, was obtained at day 14. The end of the exponential growth phase in shake flask was correlated with total sugars consumption. This behavior was not observed in bench bioreactor. Preferential glucose uptake over fructose was observed in both systems. Cell morphology was similar for both systems during culture time. Individual cells with cylindrical and elongated shape at day 0 and some aggregates with rounded cells at day 14. Polyphenols production was not affected by the system configuration and scale. Intra and extracellular antioxidant activity were directly related with phenols production in both systems. GPX went from 1.87 to 7.97 µM/min/mg protein in shake flask and it was correlated with low ROS production, indicating a positive enzymatic cell response for culture in this scale mediated by GPX. Bench bioreactor conditions generated a higher stress environment, increased ROS production without activating enzymatic response leaded by guaiacol or non-enzymatic directed by phenolic compounds. In conclusion, bench stirred bioreactor scale affects negatively biomass production and sugars uptake.