AIM: To examine the effect of alisol B acetate on the growth of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and its possible mechanism of action. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of alisol B acetate on SGC7901 cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes. Cell cycle and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (△Ψm) were determined by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, caspase-3, caspase-9, Akt, P-Akt and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K). RESULTS: Alisol B acetate inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cell line in a time-and dose-dependent manner. PI staining showed that alisol B acetate can change the cell cycle distribution of SGC7901, increase the proportion of cells in G0-G1 phase and decrease the proportion of S phase cells and G2-M phase cells. Alisol B acetate at a concentration of 30 μmol/L induced apoptosis after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation, with occurrence rates of apoptotic cells of 4.36%, 14.42% and 21.16%, respectively. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy revealed that the nuclear fragmentation and chromosomal condensed, cells shrank and attachment loss appeared in the SGC7901 treated with alisol B acetate. Apoptosis of SGC7901cells was associated with cell cycle arrest, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and up-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt. CONCLUSION: Alisol B acetate exhibits an antiproliferative effect in SGC7901 cells by inducing apoptosis. Apoptosis of SGC7901 cells involves mitochondria-caspase and PI3K/Akt dependent pathways. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of alisol B acetate on SGC7901 cells was measured by 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol -2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes. Cell cycle and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (△ Ψm) were determined by flow cytometry. used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, caspase-3, caspase-9, Akt, P-Akt and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) of SGC7901 cell line in a time-and dose-dependent manner. PI staining showed that alisol B acetate can change the cell cycle distribution of SGC7901, increase the proportion of cells in G0-G1 phase and decrease the proportion of S phase cells and G2 -M phase cells. Alisol B acetate at a co Phase-contrast and electron microscopy revealed that the nuclear fragmentation and chromosomal condensation, respectively, showed a significant increase in apoptotic rates of apoptotic cells of 4.36%, 14.42% and 21.16%, respectively. Cell shrank and attachment loss appeared in the SGC7901 treated with alisol B acetate. Apoptosis of SGC7901 cells was associated with cell cycle arrest, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and up-regulation of the ratio of Bax / Bcl -2 and inhibition of the PI3K / Akt. CONCLUSION: Alisol B acetate exhibits an antiproliferative effect in SGC7901 cells by inducing apoptosis. Apoptosis of SGC7901 cells involves mitochondria- caspase and PI3K / Akt dependent pathways.