Abstract: Astudy on the effect of carbohydrates,vitamines,amino acids,calcium and inositol on the cell growth and shikonin derivative formation in suspension cultures of Arnebia euchroma cells was carried out.Sucrose is better than any other caybohytrates tested for cell growth and pigment formation,and the optimum concentration is 3%,Neither vitamine B₂ nor vitamine B₆ is effective for shikonin derivative formation,but vitamine B₁ can promote cell growth.Both tyrosine and glycine retard the formation of shikonin derivatives,however,10^-5mol/l L-phenylalanine and 10^-7-10^-6mol/l vitamine Cstimulate their biosynthesis,Although inositol has no effect on cell growth,200mg/l inositol can increase pigment content.The optimal concentration of calcium salts for cell growth and shikonin derivative formation are 332mg/l CaCl₂·2H₂O and 1400mg/l Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O,respectively,The hetter"growth medium"and"production medium"have been developed and listed in the present paper.