Abstract: The saponin content of Panax notoginseng cell cultures-was 11.14% of dry weight, the saponin yield was 1513.3mg· L-1, and yield of cell cultures was 13.58g dry wt · L-1 per month in fermentation culture, which were all better than those obtained from in suspension culture. Increasing inoculum quantity could obviously increase growth rate, saponin content and yield of cell cultures. An aeration rate of 0.8vvm was optimal for fermentation culture of the cells. The pH value of the culture broth went down from 5.80 to 3.92 gradually and never returned in fermentation culture of P. notoginseng cells.

Key words: Panax notoginseng, Fermentation culture, Saponin, Growth rate