The effects of several compounds related to signal transduction cascade were determined to induce the production of alizarin and purpurin in the hairy root culture system of Rubia cordifolia var. pratensis. It was found that out of five tested compounds jasmonic acid(1 mg/l) and methyl jasmonate(1 mg/l) stimulated strongly the biosynthesis of the pigments while linolenic acid(1 mg/l) induced no significant increase of the product. Yeast extract(600 mg/l) and arachidonic acid(1 mg/l) showed relatively mild inducing effects on production of alizarin. The effects of jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate were reduced by treatment with cycloheximide(2.8 mg/l).