Abstract: Objective :To investigate the anti-tumor effect of tetrandrine on human ovarian cancer in vtro,effects of tetrandrine on proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell A2780 were observed. Methods :The effect of tetrandrine on proliferation of A2780 cells was observed by MTT assay.Detection of apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were performed with flow cytometry,and DNA fragmentation was verified by agarose electrophoresis.The expressions of p53,p21 and Bax were analyzed by Western blot. Results :Tetrandrine inhibits the proliferation of A2780 cells in dosage and time dependent manner and induces apoptosis.The cell cycle was arrested in G₀/G₁ phase in A2780 cells treated with tetrandrine.Western blot showed that the expressions of p53,p21 and Bax increase in A2780 cells treated with tetrandrine. Conclusion :Tetrandrine inhibits the proliferation of A2780 in the dose and time dependent manner,and induces apoptosis.The anti-tumor effect of tetrandrine may be due to up-regulating the expressions of p53,p21 and Bax.