Abstract: Callus was induced from seedlings of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Glycyrrhetic acid, the major constitution of the original plant, was not detected in the ceils cultured in flasks and in 5 L and 2 5 L draught-tube air-lift bioreactors. But a yellow compound was isolated, and identified as 4, 4′-dihydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (echinatin) by means of TLC, UV, IR, MS and 1H-NMR spectra. The cultured cells failed to produce detectable amount of glycyrrhetic acid. The biosynthesis of echinatin was also discussed in this paper.

Key words: Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cell culture, Glycyrrhetic acid, 4, 4′-dihydroxy-2-Methoxychalcone