Regulation of saponin production in callus cultures of Panax ginseng [1].

It was shown that Panax ginseng callus produces the same kinds of saponins in considerable amounts as in intact plants, and the saponin content is significantly lower in habituated callus than in normal callus. Furthermore, it was found that semicarbazide and particularly thiosemicarbazide inhibit the production of phytosterols and promote the biosynthesis of saponins in the presence of mevalonic acid, also the biosyntheses of saponins and phytosterols are inhibited by the individual end products.