Abstract:Hormone autotrophic cell lines producing anthocyanins were obtained from the callus cultures of Ponax. ginscng C. A. Meyer by jrraldiation of γ–ray. After repeated selections, a cell line 2511 was isolated and characterized. Under suspension culture condition, the cell cultures could be increased by about 300% and contained 2–3% of anthocyanins and 0.3-0.7% of ginseng saponins on cell dry weight basis after the incubation for two weeks. The 12–15g dry cells and 300 mg anthocyanins per liter medium could be produced during a 14-day growth cycle. 20 mg/1 phenylalanine or 30 g/l sucrose added in to the medium brought about a marked increase of anthocyanin content. In addition, the effects of monochromatic light, light intensity, carbon source and medium pH on cell growth and anthocyanin production were also tested. About 8 g dry cultures and 90 mg anthocyanins could be obtained from the cultures of l liter agar medium. Four anthocyanins were isolated from the ginseng pigment cells. The aglycone, one of the major pigments, was identified as cyanidin and the possible structure was established as cyanidin 3–O–β–D–xylcopyranyl–(1→2) –β–D–glucopyranoside by means of UV spectrum, 1HNMR spectrum and 13CNMR spectrum.