High-density cultivation of Perilla frutescens cells for anthocyanin production was carried out in both batch and fed-batch modes in a 500-ml shake flask. In fed-batch cultures, a high cell density of 27.7 g dry cells l(-1) and a total anthocyanin production of 3.87 g l(-1) by intermittent feeding of all medium components except hormones were obtained. In batch cultures, both initial sucrose concentration and inoculum size showed a conspicuous effect on the kinetics of cell growth, sugar consumption, and secondary metabolite (anthocyanins) production by suspended P. frutescens cells. At an inoculum size of 50 g wet cells l(-1), the maximum cell density of 38.3 g dry cells l(-1) was obtained after II days of cultivation at an initial sucrose concentration of 60 g l(-1), the highest pigment production of >5.8 g l(-1) was attained after IO days of cultivation at an initial sucrose concentration of 45 g l(-1). These amounts of cell mass and anthocyanin pigments were 3.3 and 24 times higher than those at an initial sucrose concentration of 15 g l(-1) and inoculum size of 15 g wet cells l(-1), respectively.