L-Ascorbic acid (AsA), commonly known as vitamin C, which is one of the antioxidant vitamins, plays a role in cellular oxidant quenching. Some of the biochemical reactions in which it takes part have been traced through organ culture technique. But in cell cultured system, views on stimulatory and inhibitory action of AsA on cell growth are conflicting. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the inhibitory action of high concentration AsA on the cell growth in Primary chondrocyte isolated from rat ribs. Cells were exposed to ascorbate at various concentrations. Supplement of AsA induced stimulation of cell growth in primary cultured cells of chondrocytes. Most remarkable stimulation of cell growth by AsA was found in primary cultured chondrocytes. However, it showed that they were dead in the medium which contained AsA at the concentration higher than 1.0 mM. This lethal effect of AsA causing the cell death was inhibited by the addition of catalase in the medium. This supposed that hydroxyl radical (ㆍOH) induced from $H_2O$$_2$ was actively cytotoxic agent. Based on the results, when AsA was added in medium at normal concentrations, the cell growth was stimulated by inducing the formation of extracellular matrix. On the contrary, if added in medium at excess concentrations, the cell growth was inhibited because $H_2O$$_2$ were generated from AsA in medium. Therefore, addition of AsA at the normal concentrations stimulates cell growth, but excess concentrations of AsA induces cell death.