Abstract: AIM: To study the relations between apoptosis of tumor cells induced by artesunate (Art)and expression of survivin. METHODS: Tumor cells were exposured to different concentrations of Art, apoptosis was examined by fluorescent staining, flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE)and Caspase-3 activity assay. The expressions of survivin mRNA and survivin protein were assayed with RT-PCR and Western blotting after cells treated with Art. RESULTS: With Art treatment, HL60 cells showed typical apoptotic features, including chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies (fluorescent staining), and apoptosis rate of tumor cells increasing in concentration-dependent manners (flow cytometry), DNA ladder (AGE), activity of Caspase-3 enhancing.Analysis of RT-PCR indicated that expression of survivin mRNA was reduced in concentration-dependent manners after A549 cells were exposured to 10 and 50 mg·L^-1 Art for 72 h.Intensity ratios between survivin strip and GAPDH strip in control, 10 and 50 mg·L^-1 Art groups were 1.745, 0.390 and 0.023, respectively.Western blotting detection was also indicated that Art inhibited expression of survivin protein. CONCLUSION: Tumor cells apoptosis induced by Art might be associated with suppressing survivin expression.

Key words: artemisinin, artesunate, tumor, apoptosis, mechanism, survivin