Abstract: Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of beta-elemene applied in treatment of gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis. Methods : we use Walker 256 cancer cell to develop the animal model with lymphatic metastasis of the gastric cancer in Wistar mice. The mice were divided into three groups, i.e. the control group, the administration group and the gastric serosa injection group. After six days' administration of beta-elemene, the abdominal cavity was opened for investigation of the followings: 1, the size of gastric cancer and lymph node metastasis in Wistar mice each group; 2, pathological grade of enlarged mesenteric lymph node in each groups; 3, to assay the apoptosis rate of mesenteric lymph node with TUNEL method in each groups; 4, to determine the expression level of apoptosis related genes Fas and bcl -2 in mesenteric lymph node. Results : 1, the mesenteric lymph node metastasis in oral administration group and gastric serosa injection group are fewer than in the control group, especially in gastric serosa injection group; 2, the pathological grade of mesenteric lymph node in oral administration group and gastric serosa injection group are fewer than in the control group obviously; 3, the apoptosis rate of mesenteric lymph node in the oral administration group, gastric serosa injection group and control group is (23.7±0.2)%, (30.1±0.6)% and(5.6±0.4)% respectively; 4, contrast to the control group, the expression level of Fas in the other two groups was up-regulated and the expression level of bcl-2 was down-regulated. Conclusion : oral administration or gastric serosa injection of beta-elemene can induce tumor apoptosis and may be useful for prevention and treatment of the lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.