Objective: To observe the combinational effects of resveratrol and curcumin on cell proliferation

apoptosis and the possible mechanisms in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro.Method: SMMC-7721 cells were treated with resveratrol or curcumin or both.Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry

apoptotic morphology was visualized by hoechst 33258 staining.Caspase-3

caspase-8 and caspase-9 activities were detected by colorimetric assay

and cleaved poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase（PARP） was detected by Western blot.Result: Compared with the control

resveratrol and curcumin significantly inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells.The combination of resveratrol and curcumin was found to be more effective in inhibiting growth（P<0.01）

and inducing apoptosis in SMMC-7721 as indicated by apoptotic morphological change and PI/Annexin V-FITC staining.The apoptosis rate of resveratrol

curcumin and combination group was（17.39±1.41）%

（14.96±2.23）%

and（25.36±2.68）% respectively.In addition

caspase-3

caspase-8 and caspase-9 were significantly activated by combinational treatment of resveratrol and curcumin

accompanied by increased PARP cleavage

and compared with either agent alone.Conclusion: Combination of resveratrol and curcumin may elicit synergistic anti-cancer effects in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells

and associated with caspase-8

-9/caspase-3/PARP mediated apoptosis.