Objective: To introduce the hairy roots of Phellodendron chinense and determine the content of its active constituents.
Method: Transformed hairy roots of P. chinense were obtained by the transformation of Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4, R1600, ATCC15834 and R1000.
Result and conclusion: It was clearly demonstrated that T-DNA of A. rhizogenes Ri plasmid was integrated into the cells of hairy roots by PCR. The content of berberine hydrochlodride, which was determined by HPLC, was higher in hairy roots than that in the axenic plantet and callus.