Abstract:To investigate the inhibitory effects ofbreviscapine on proliferation of human hepatocellularcarcinoma cellline HepG2 and colon cancercellline Caco2.M ethodsBoth HepG2 and Caco2 cell lines were treated with breviscapine atdifferentconcentrations for24,48 and 72 h,and the inhibitory rate was analyzed by MTT assay.The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the therapeutic index (TI) were used as indicators to assess their anti-tumor activity and safety. Results Breviscapine at high concentration displayed inhibitoryeffecton HepG2;when theconcentration was20,000 μmol,itsinhibitoryrateto HepG2 cellsafter24,48 and 72 h was37% ,63% and 69% respectively.Asto Caco2 cellsbreviscapine showed concentration dependency; when the concentration was 5,000 μmol,its inhibitory rate after 24,48 and 72 h was 72% , 95% and 92% respectively.The IC50 ofbreviscapine on HepG2 cellsafter24,48 and 72 h was 24,320.5 μmol,30,667.7 μmol and 15,586.1 μmolrespectively;while thaton Caco2 cellsafter24,48 and 72 h was11,417.0 μmol,832.2 μmol and 1,369.2 μmolrespectively.Conclusions Breviscapine exhibits differentdegree ofinhibitory effecton HepG2 and Caco2 cells,theeffectismoresignificanton Caco2 cells.