Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of triptolide(TP) on proliferation and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell.METHODS: The anti-proliferative action of TP on MCF-7 cell was investigated in different conditions using MTT assay; morphological changes were evaluated by inverted microscope; MCF-7 cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and the levels of Caspase-3,9 were measured by caspase assay kit.RESULTS:TP could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cell in a time- and dose-dependent manner; TP could cause cell morphological changes(deformation, shedding and cell debris,etc.). Flow cytometry showed the concentration of 5 μg/mL TP could obviously induce the MCF-7 apoptosis;the levels of Caspase-3,9 were higher than that in control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: TP induces MCF-7 cell apoptosis partly through mitochondrial signal transduction pathway.

Key words: Triptolide, MCF-7 cell, Apoptosis