Effects of initial phosphate concentration on the growth, ginsenoside saponin production, and the consumption of sugar and nitrogen sources by suspended cells of Panax notogindseng (Burk) F. H. Chen were investigated in a 250-mL shake flask. The results indicate that by increasing the initial phosphate concentration in the medium in the range of 0-1.25 mM, both the cell growth and the saponin accumulation were greatly improved, and the utilization of sugar and nitrogen sources was also increased. The highest production, productivity, and yield of ginsenosides obtained were 0.98 g/L, 45.5 mg/L/d, and 0.030 g/g at 1.25 mM of initial medium phosphate. At a relatively higher level of medium phosphate, i.e., 2.0 mM, the product accumulation was inhibited to some degree, although the cell growth was not.