Objective: To study the anti-tumor effect of the extract from Corni Fructus and investigate its mechanism. Method: Lewis lung cancer C57BL cells were incubated for 10-14 days for preparing Lewis lung cancer cells. MTT method was used to detect the inhibition effect of the extract from Corni Fructus on cancer cells

and flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of the extract from Corni Fructus on cell cycle and cell apoptosis; laser scanning confocal microscope was used to detect the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2)

Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax) and p53 protein expressions. Lewis lung cancer cell suspension was incubated at axillary in healthy C57BL mice

and after successful inoculation

the mice were administrated with the extract from Corni Fructus (100

200

400 mg·kg-1) for 2 weeks

and then the mass of lung transplantation tumor and number of pulmonary metastatic foci were detected; the content of serum carcinoembryonic antigen in mice was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent experiment method (ELISA). Result: As compared with the normal group

the extract of Corni Fructus could significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells (P<0.05); after Lewis lung cancer cells were treated with the extract for 48 h

cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase(P<0.05

P<0.01). As compared with the normal group

Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly reduced in Corni Fructus group

and Bax and p53 protein expressions were significantly increased (P<0.05). As compared with the model group

the mass of the tumor in mice and number of pulmonary metastatic foci were significantly decreased

and the serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels of the mice were decreased significantly in Corni Fructus group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The extract of Corni Fructus has inhibitory effect on Lewis lung cancer cells in vivo and in vitro

and its mechanism may be related to inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells and interfering with the cell cycle distribution.