Abstract: In order to find cell strains with high and selective 12β-hydroxylation capacity, the relationship between the hydroxylation capacity of Digitalis lanata plants and cells in culture was studied. 80 different cell strains initiated from 36 plants with various Digoxin contents and hydroxylation were investigated, The results of these experiments Showed that there is no correlation between the hydroxylation capacity of plants and that of the cell cultures.

Key words: Digitalis lanata Ehrh., Hydroxylation, β-Methyldigitoxin (Mdt), β-Methyldigoxin (Mdg)