Abstract: AIM: To observe the proliferative effects of matrine on U937 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: The effects of matrine on U937 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells proliferation were observed by morphology, MTT and cell cycle detection. RESULTS: U937 cells treated with matrine at the concentration of 0.2 mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL for 24 h were inhibited proliferation in a time and dose-dependent manner detected by MTT (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and increased at the S stage (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The half-inhibition concentration (IC50) was 0.4 mg/mL in U937 cells compared with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (P>0.05).HUVECs treated with matrine at the concentration of 0.1 to 0.5 mg/mL for 48 h showed no effect on cell cycle (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Matrine has an inhibited effect on U937 cells proliferation in a time and dose-dependent manner.

Key words: Matrine, U937 cell, human umbilical vein endothelial cell, cell proliferation