Abstract: Objective :To investigate the anti-proliferation effect and apoptosis-inducing activity of synthetic saponin in Solanum indicum L. on human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 cells. Methods :The acid phosphatase assay (APA), Acridine orange(AO) fluorescent staining and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the anti-proliferation and apoptosis-inducing effects of the saponin on BEL-7402. Expression levels of poly (ADR-ribose) polymerase (parp), an apoptosis related protein, was measured by Western Blot. Results :The solanum saponin (indiaside) significantly inhibited proliferation of BEL7402 cells with ICSOVaIue of 4.2N.,g/ml^-1 for 72 hours. Typical apoptotic morphological features were observed by fluorescent microscopy on the saponin treated cells. Apparent enhancement in apoptosis rate was detected using flow cytometry, after BEL-7402 cells had been exposed to the saponin for 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours, respectively. The Western Blot analysis showed that PARP was proteolysized and Bcl-2 protein levels was decreased by saponin treatment. Conclusions :The saponin has dose pendent inhibition effects on proliferation of human hepatocarcinoma cells, and can induce apoptosis, probably by decreasing Bcl-2 expression.