Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms by which the flavonoid casticin enhances tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Methods: Human colon cancer HT-29 cells were treated with TRAIL or casticin. Cytotoxicity was examined by MTT assay, and apoptosis determined by morphological observation and flow cytometric analysis. Death receptor 5 (DR5), DR4, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response markers, including glucose regulating protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and CHOP (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein), were examined with western blot. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was employed to knock down CHOP. Results: HT-29 cells were resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, but casticin, at subtoxic concentrations, potentiated HT-29 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Casticin up-regulated the expression of DR5 time- and dose-dependent manners, but had no effect on the expression of DR4. Also, casticin increased the levels of ER stress response markers (GRP78, ATF4 and CHOP) in a similar way to DR5. Knockdown of CHOP by specific siRNA, or salubrinal, an ER stress inhibitor, abolished the up-regulation of DR5 and enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by casticin. Conclusion: Casticin enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis of colon cancer cells by ER stress-mediated up-regulation of DR5.