Comparison of qualitative and quantitative in vitro ginsenoside productionin callus cultures of three Panax species

The qualitative and quantitative difference in the various ginsenoside cons tituents of the crude butanol-soluble saponin fractions of callus cultures of two Indian species of Panax namely P. sikkimensis and P. pseudoginseng h ave been compared with that of P. quinquefolium (American ginseng). The 45- 50 days old calli of the two Indian species, though found to accumulate cru de ginsenoside at levels (0.9 % and 1.1 %, respectively) comparable to that in P. quinquefolium (1.2 %), P. pseudoginseng callus showed high productiv ity of ginsenosides Rf (40.57 %) and Ro (19.60 %). Panax sikkimensis and P. quinquefolium calli on the other hand accumulated more of Rb and Rg group of ginsenosides but while the former appeared to be a Rg(2) accumulator the callus of the later was rich in the Rg(1) fraction.