摘要Objective: The apoptosis of Hela cells induced by ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract of Celastrus or-biculatus Thunb was studied in order to assess its antitumor effect. Methods: Hela cells were cultured in vitro and treated by a series of concentrations of ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. Cell proliferation was detected based on MTT assay. Quantity of apoptosis were observed and analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V and propidium iodide double staining. P53 gene expression was detected by flow cytometry. Results: The proliferation of Hela cells was obviously inhibited by 15, 30, 60 and 120 μg/mL extract of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb and apoptosis of Hela was induced by dosed dependent manner. P53 gene showed increasing tendency when treated by 60-480 μg/mL extract of Celas-trus orbiculatus Thunb. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb could induce apoptosis of Hela gastric cancer cells by dose dependent manner, which maybe one of the important mechanisms of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb's anticancer effects. P53 protein expression in Hela was up-regulated by Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb, which maybe one of the molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer and proapoptotic effect of Celastrus or-biculatus Thunb.