Abstract: AIM: To explore mitochondrial mechanisms of apoptosis induced by artesunate in human leukemia HL60 cells.METHODS: Human leukemia HL60 cell lines were treated by artesunate.The inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay.Electron microscopy and DNA gel electrophoresis was applied to demonstrate the presence of apoptosis.The level of MMP, cell-cycle were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). The activity of caspase 3 was observed by colorimetry. RESULTS: Art showed a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner on the growth of HL60 cells (P<0.05).The typical apoptotic morphological and biochemical changes showed in apoptosis of HL60 cells induced by Art.The flow cytometric profiles revealed that Art (200 mg°L^-1) led to the shift from 7.3%up to 18.2% of the G²⁺ M phase and from 55.3% down to 16.0% of the S phase cells in the percentage of HL60 cell with the increased rate of cell apoptosis(P<0.05).Art significantly decreased the level of MMP inHL60 (P<0.05), and enhanced the activity of caspase 3 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Art can induce apoptosis in HL60 via a mitochondria/caspase3-specific pathway.

Key words: artesunate, HL60 cell lines, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, cysteine containing aspartate3