Objective:To study the effect and mechanism of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. extract (COE) on invasion and migration of human gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells. Method: The human gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells were divided into negative and positive control group and COE groups (20

40

80 mg·L-1

respectively). The cytotoxicity effect was measured by using the MTT assay. The invasion and migration ability of MGC-803 were assayed by transwell assay. The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in MGC-803 were examined by western blot assay. Result: COE suppressed the proliferation of MGC-803 cells in a time and does-dependent manner. The concentrations of 40

80 mg·L-1 of COE significantly inhibited the invasion and migration activity of MGC-803 cells. In addition

the expression levels of MMP-2

MMP-9 were dramatically suppressed by COE in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: COE could obviously inhibit the migration and invasion ability of MGC-803 cells. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulated expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.