Abstract
The qualitative and quantitative difference in the various ginsenoside constituents of the crude butanol-soluble saponin fractions of callus cultures of two Indian species of Panax namely P. sikkimensis and P. pseudoginseng have been compared with that of P. quinquefolium (American ginseng). The 45-50 days old calli of the two Indian species, though found to accumulate crude ginsenoside at levels (0.9% and 1.1%, respectively) comparable to that in P. quinquefolium (1.2%), P. pseudoginseng callus showed high productivity of ginsenosides Rf (40.57%) and Ro (19.60%). P. quinquefolium calli on the other hand accumulated more of Rb and Rg group of ginsenosides but while the former appeared to be a Rg2 accumulator the callus of the later was rich in the Rg1 fraction.
