Abstract:Objective: To study the effects of mineral cations on the growth of Salvia niltiorrhiza adventitious roots and the accumulation of tanshinone ⅡA and protocatechuic aldehyde. Method: The adventitious roots were cultured under different concentrations of metal cations and the contents of tanshinone ⅡA and protocatechuic aldehyde were determined by HPLC. Result: Fe2+ and Mn2+ in MS medium are suitable for adventitious root growth, but Cu2+ and Mg2+ in high concentration could improve root proliferation, and Zn2+ has no obvious effect on root growth. As for tanshinone ⅡA and protocatechuic aldehyde biosynthesis, Cu2+ and Zn2+ would inhibit the biosynthesis of protocatechuic aldehyde, furthermore, proper Fe2+ and Mg2+ concentration could advance the biosynthesis of protocatechuic aldehyde, whereas, Mn2+ in high concentration could accelerate the biosynthesis of protocatechuic aldehyde. Cu2+ ,Zn2+ , Mg2+ in low concentration and Fe2+ and Mn2+ in high concentration would all advance the biosynthesis of tanshinone ⅡA. Conculsion: The mineral cations have obvious effects on the secondary metabolites biosynthesis in adventitious root culture of S. niltiorrhiza.