Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of tectorigenin on the proliferation of human hepatoma cells SMMC-7721.Methods Tectorigenin was added into SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells in log phase.After 24 hours the morphologic change was observed with an inverted microscope.The inhibitory effect on the proliferation of tumor cells was evaluated by MTT.The early and late apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC /PI double staining and PI single staining respectively.Results After cultivated with tectorigenin for 24 hours,the hepatoma cells became smaller,rounder and thicker.The adherent cells in experimental group were much fewer.The results of MTT showed that tectorigenin could inhibit the cell proliferation in a concentration-dependence manner from 1.00 μg·mL-1 to 8.00 μg·mL-1.48-hour maximal inhibition rate could reach 76.57%,IC50 was(3.71±1.17)μg·mL-1(n=5).The 6-hour early apoptosis rate of hepatoma cells was(28.05±1.72)%,(56.17±2.14)% and(88.54±3.04)% respectively after cultivated with 5.00,10.00 and 20.00 μg·mL-1 tectorigenin.There were significant difference between the experimental groups and control group whose early apoptosis rate was(6.77±0.81)%(P<0.01).The 48-hour late apoptosis rate was(9.33±0.85)%,(17.02±1.38)% and(38.04±2.03)% respectively,there were also significant difference between the experimental groups and control group(P<0.05).Conclusions Tectorigenin has significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells within the range of 1.00 to 16.00 μg·mL-1 and the mechansim may be related to promoting apoptosis. Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of tectorigenin on the proliferation of human hepatoma cells SMMC-7721. Methods Tectorigenin was added into SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells in log phase. After 24 hours the morphologic change was observed with an inverted microscope. Inhibitory effect on the proliferation of tumor cells was evaluated by MTT. The early and late apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC / PI double staining and PI single staining respectively. Results after cultivated with tectorigenin for 24 hours, the hepatoma cells became smaller, rounder and thicker. The adherent cells in experimental group were much fewer. The results of MTT showed that tectorigenin could inhibit the cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner from 1.00 μg · mL-1 to 8.00 μg · mL-1.48-hour The maximal inhibition rate could reach 76.57% and the IC50 was 3.71 ± 1.17 μg · mL-1 (n = 5). The 6-hour early apoptosis rate of hepatoma cells was (28.05 ± 1.72)%, (56.17 ± 2.14)%, and (88.54 ± 3 .04)% respectively after cultivated with 5.00, 10.00 and 20.00 μg · mL-1 tectorigenin.There were significant difference between the experimental groups and control group whose early apoptosis rate was (6.77 ± 0.81)% (P <0.01). 48 (9.33 ± 0.85)%, (17.02 ± 1.38)% and (38.04 ± 2.03)% respectively, there were significant differences between the experimental groups and control group (P <0.05) .Conclusions Tectorigenin has significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells within the range of 1.00 to 16.00 μg · mL-1 and the mechansim may be related to promoting apoptosis.