Abstract: AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effects of elemene on B-cell lymphoma cell line Raji in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Raji cells were incubated with indicated concentrations of elemene. The growth of Raji cells were observed by CCK-8 colorimetric assay, apoptosis rates were detected by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, analysis of nuclear morphology were observed with DAPI staining, cell cycles were analyzed by PI staining. And its in vivo anti-tumor effect on transplanted Raji cells in SCID mice was detected as well.RESULTS: Raji cells viability in presence of elemene decreased markedly in a dose and time dependent manner. The apoptosis could be induced by elemene and its level increased following the augmentation of the drug concentration. The characteristic apoptosis nuclei were observed in DAPI staining after elemene treatment. A concentration dependent increase of cells in G₀/G₁ phase, a decrease in S phase and G₂/M phase were detected. Elemene had a great ability to inhibit the growth of Raji cells in SCID mice.CONCLUSION: Elemene can significantly inhibit the growth of Raji cells, its function is performed by inducing apoptosis and arresting cell cycles in G₀/G₁ phase.

Key words: Elemene, Raji cell, Apoptosis, Animal experiment