Total saponins in crude drug and induced callus of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb. )Mak. grown in Jiangxi Province were analysed by spectrophotometry and TLC. Results sh-owed that the quality and quantity of saponins in crude drugs valicd collsiderably with cu-lture area, the life cycle and their crgans. The quality and quantity of saponins in callusalso varied due to source of clone. It providcd some cvidence for the production and harv-est of G. pentaphyllum.