Abstract: The cell biomass, flavonoids production and nutrients consumption were monitored to characterize the culture of progressive scale-up of Glycyrrhiza inflata . The maximum biomass, flavonoids production and the maximum specific growth rate in the culture of 250 and 500mL flasks remain similar , but were significantly higher than that of 1 000 mL flask. The three parameters in the culture of 1 000mL flask were 27% , 30% , and 27% lower than that of 250 mL flask , respectively. The concentrates of phosphate , nitrate and ammonium in progressive scale-up flasks decreased similarly . Phosphate and nitrate were almost exhausted on day 10 and 18 in all flasks, respectively; while ammonium maintained about 100mg/L till cells were harvested. The basic culture conditions needed to be further optimized for higher flavonoids production on a bioreactor scale .

Key words: Glycyrrhiza inflata