Cell suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola YC. Ma were cultivated on Murashiage and Skoog medium with 1.0 mg l(-1) NAA, 2.0 mg l(-1) 6-BA, 0.25 mg l(-1) 2,4-D and 30 g l(-1) sucrose to produce phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) which have marked activities in scavenging free radicals, enhancing immune, improving sexual function, sedative effect and so on. The kinetics of cell growth, PeGs accumulation and nutrient exhaustion in C. deserticola cell suspension culture were investigated. The maximum dry weight of 8.03 g l(-1) and PeGs production of 97 mg l(-1) were achieved after 21 days. PeGs production of C. deserticola cell cultures was improved by adding organic compounds and increasing initial phosphate concentration. Significantly high antioxidant activity and PeGs accumulation were observed in the cell suspension cultures of C. deserticola. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.