To investigate the effect and mechanism of herbal medicine 960 recipe(960) on reversing the malignant phenotypes of human hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC) SMMC7721 cells.Methods SMMC7721 cells were maintained by the 960-containing serum derived from rats who had been administered orally with 960 recipe. Cell vitality was detected by MTT assay. The abilities of albumin and alpha fetal protein (AFP) secretion were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). cAMP and cGMP were detected with 125I-cAMP and 125 I-cGMP radioimmune methods, and telomerase activities were assessed using the telomerase PCR ELISA.Results After treated with 960 containing serum, the cell vitality reduced by 30. 7% for 12h, 40.3% for 24h, 56.9% for 48h and 67.7% for 72h; the abilities of albumin secretion enhanced especially on day 6, it increased by 24.5% compared with that of control group; and AFP reduced 62. 5%, significantly lower than that of control; the intracellular cAMP level was elevated, and telomerase activiti To investigate the effect and mechanism of herbal medicine 960 recipe (960) on reversing the malignant phenotypes of human hepatocellular car-cinoma (HCC) SMMC7721 cells. Methods SMMC7721 cells were maintained by the 960-containing serum derived from rats who had been administered orally The abilities of albumin and alpha fetal protein (AFP) secretion were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). cAMP and cGMP were detected with 125I-cAMP and 125 I-cGMP radioimmune Methods, and telomerase activities were assessed using the telomerase PCR ELISA. Results after treatment with 960 serum, the cell vitality reduced by 30.7% for 12h, 40.3% for 24h, 56.9% for 48h and 67.7% for 72h; of albumin secretion enhanced especially on day 6, it increased by 24.5% compared with that of control group; and AFP reduced 62.5%, significantly lower than that of control; the intracellular cAMP level was elevated, and telomerase activiti