Objective: To study the effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on growth and apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma cell. Method: Eca9706 cells were inoculated in 96-well plates

and 1×104 cells per hole. Cultured for 24 h 100 μL the culture medium containing different concentrations of glycyrrhetinic acid was added respectively

the concentration was 95

114

138

166

200 mg · L-1. Inhibitive effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on proliferation of esophageal carcinom Eca9706 cells was detected by MTT assay

and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometer and confocal laser scanning microscope. Result: In the range of 95-200 mg · L-1

glycyrrhetinic acid with various concentrations effectively inhibited the proliferation of Eca9706 cells in dose dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with the control group

glycyrrhetinic acid in a concentration of 83

108

133 mg · L-1 significantly increased the apoptosis rate of Eca9706 cells in 48 h (P<0.01). The confocal laser scanning microscopewas used to observe cell membrane

for control group showed green fluorescence

which may be at the early apoptotic stage;cell membrane indicated green fluorescence and nuclearwith red fluorescence after glycyrrhetinic acid treatment

which was at early and late apoptosis. Conclusion: Glycyrrhetinic acid could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Eca9706 cells through regulating cell apoptosis.