Abstract: Aim To study the effect of the total extract of astragalosides (TEA) on the growth AFP secretion and 7~GT activity of human hepatoma cells in vitro. Methods The human hepatoma HepG2 and Bel-7404 cells were cultured with TEA 5 ~ 160 mg· L^-1 for 6 days. Anti hepatoma activity was measured by MTT method. AFP was assaysed by ELISA and 7~GT was determined by enzyme substrate method. Results The growth of the human hepatoma HepG2 and Bel-7404 cells and the secretion of AFP of HepG2 cells were reduced significantly by TEA 5 ~ 160 mg · L^-1. The YGT activity of HepG2 cells was inhibited and its ALB content was increased by TEA 20,40 and 80 mg · L^-1. The 7~GT activity of Bel-7404 cell was inhibited and its ALB content was increased by TEA 40 and 80 mg· L^-1. Conclusion These results suggest that TEA has inhibitory effects on the growth, AFP secretion and YGT activity of human hepatoma cells.

Key words: hepatoma cells, AFP, YGT activity, astragalosides