Abstract:Suspension cultured cells of Berberis julianae Schneid. were immobilized by entrapment in calcium alginate gel and reticulate polyurethane. It was found that cells immobilized in lag phase secreted more jatrorrhizine into medium than in exponential phase. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed that the cells were entraped in the centre of the foam block, and bad grown out through its surface by 20 days. The viability of the immobilized cells was confirmed by measuring the respiratory capacity after transferring the blocks at 20 days intervals for about 140 days.