Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of licochalcone A (LCA) on the invasion and metastasis in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Method: The cell proliferation rate was evaluated using sulforhodamine B(SRB) method. And the anti-metastasis ability was observed using scratch wound assay. The activated of matrix metal proteinase-2(MMP-2) and matrix metal proteinase-9(MMP-9) were evaluated using gelatin zymography. The expression in protein level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected using enzyme-elinked iemmunosorbent essay (ELISA).The mRNA expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR. Result: There was no significant effect on proliferation rate after treated with LCA 5-15 μmol· L-1 in B16F10 cells. LCA attenuated B16F10 cells migration in a concentration-dependent manner. LCA was able to reduce the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9

down-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 both in mRNA and protein levels. Conclusion: LCA attenuated mouse melanoma B16F10 cells migration by inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression.