Objective: To investigate the effect of apigenin on the growth inhibition and apoptosis in human lung cancer cell line SPC-A1. Method: Lung cancer cell line SPC-A1 were cultured in vitro routinely with different concentration(5-80 μmol·L-1).Cell proliferation was detected by MTT.Hoechst 33258 was used to detect the morphological change of apoptotic cells.Stained by Annexin V and propidium iodide(PI)

the cells were observed by flow cytometry for apoptosis. Result: The proliferation of human lung cancer cell line SPC-A1 could be inhibited and apoptosis could be induced by apigenin.The inhibition rate and apoptosis rate were different with the different concentrations.The 50% inhibitory concentration(IC50) at the 24

48

72 h was 319.02

37.23

18.59 μmol·L-1 respectively. Apoptotic body could be observed by Hoechst 33258 dying.Flow cytometry showed that apigenin could induce SPC-A1 cell apoptosis distinctly at different levels. Conclusion: Apigenin could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer SPC-A1.