Purpose: Compounds of Ophiopogon japonicas have medicinal effects including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.In this study,we screened several Ophiopogon japonicas compounds for possible anticancer effects on ovarian cancer cells and explored the mechanisms leading to such effects.Methods: MTT assay was used to screen for cytotoxicity towards ovarian cancer cells.The antitumor effects of one of the screened compounds was selected to be further explored.Colony formation assay was performed to confirm the anti-proliferation ability of the compound,while wound-healing and transwell assays were carried out to examine its effects on migration and invasion.Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V/PI staining were used to detect apoptotic activities.Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to further explore the anticancer effect and mechanisms.Results: Eight Ophipogonanone japonicas compounds were screened against the ovarian cancer cell lines HEY,SKOV3,and A2780.Methylophiopogonanone B(MDB)was selected to be further explored.MDB was found to significantly inhibit the proliferation of the tested ovarian cancer cells.Characteristics of apoptosis can be observed in high dosage treatment.Colony formation,migration and invasion abilities were also significantly inhibited.Since morphological changes were observed upon treatment,cell cycle assay and immunofluorescence were performed for further investigation.Cell cycle assay revealed that there is G2/M phase arrest and immunofluorescence for tubulin showed that MDB inhibited polymerization of microtubules.Conclusion: MDB has anticancer effects against ovarian cancer cells,such as anti-proliferation,anti-migration and invasion.Such effects were observed to be brought about by inhibiting polymerization of microtubules,leading to cell cycle arrest and ultimately,causes cell death by apoptosis,which demonstrating possible therapeutic potential of MDB on ovarian cancer.