Abstract:The optimum period of harvesting in cell suspension culture of Panax notoginseng was 30 days. The time course of sap.nih formation proceeded almost in parallel with the cell growth. An appropriate concentration of oligosaccharms from Panax ginseng, precursor fames.l, mannffol and lysozymum which were added into tbe culture broth 10 days before harvesting, all induced saponin biosynthesis significantly. Oligosaecharins at a concentration of 15ppm(it increased 1 fold of saponin yield, and increased 22.7%(of cell growth rate compared with those of the control) and farnesol at 200ppm(it increased 70.5% of sap.nih yield and stimulated cell growth compared with those of the control) were more effective.