Xanthone 6-hydroxylase activity was detected in the microsomal fractions from two plant cell cultures. The enzyme from cultured cells of Centaurium erythraea (Gentianaceae) exhibited absolute specificity for 1,3,5-trihydroxyxanthone as substrate, whereas xanthone 6-hydroxylase from cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum (Hypericacaea) preferred the isomeric 1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone but used 1,3,5-trihydroxyxanthone also to a small extent. Both xanthones were regioselectively hydroxylated in position 6. The xanthone 6-hydoxylases are cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, as shown by their dependence on NADPH and molecular oxygen and their inhibition by carbon monoxide and typical P450 inhibitors. In both cell cultures, xanthone accumulation was preceded by an increase in xanthone 6-hydroxylase activity.