Abstract: Objective To investigate the inhibition effect of Scutellariae barbata extracts on the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7701.Methods The inhibition activity of the extracts against cell line QGY-7701 was estimated by MTT assay.Morphologic changes of the cells were observed under light microscope and electronic microscope.Cell cycle distribution,cell apoptosis and expressions of apoptosis-associated genes as Bcl-2,Bax and Fas were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Extracts of Scutellariae barbata could inhibit the proliferation of QGY-7701.When treated with the extracts for 72 h,cells at the early stage of apoptosis showed morphologic changes,apoptotic cells increased,cells at G0/G1 phase decreased and those at G2/M phase increased,the expression of Bax significantly up-regulated and that of Bcl-2 down-regulated with no change in Fas gene.Conclusion The extracts of Scutellariae barbata inhibit the proliferation of QGY-7701,which may relate to the activation of anti-oncogene Bcl-2,induction of cell apoptosis and inhibition of G to S phase cell cycle progress.