Abstract: Objective：To investigate the effect and mechanism of EGCG on human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells′ apoptosis. Methods：SKOV3 cells were divided into four groups. Negative control group: cultured with normal culture medium; EGCG low dose group: cultured with 1 μmol/L EGCG; EGCG middle dose group: cultured with 10 μmol/L EGCG; EGCG high dose group: cultured with 100 μmol/L EGCG. Cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group of SKOV3 cells were test by MTT assay, nuclei apoptosis were checked by Hoechs staine, cells morphology were investigated by electron microscope, Caspase-3 expression was detected by Western-blot. Results：Cell proliferation inhibition test results showed that the inhibition rate of EGCG low, medium and high concentration group on SKOV3 cells was (81.33±3.71)%, (67.00±7.21)% and (54.67±3.84)%, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05) compared with the negative control group (101.00±3.06)%. Hoechst33258 staining results showed that, apoptosis cell percentage of EGCG low, medium and high concentration group was (16.77±2.48)%, (24.33±3.70)% and (39.67±4.11)%, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05) compared with the negative control group [(2.00±1.45)%]. Electron microscopy showed that with the concentration of EGCG elevated, the damage on ultrastructure of SKOV3 cell became clear. In addition, EGCG could raised Caspase-3 expression levels. Conclusions：EGCG induced ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells apoptosis by enhancing the expression of Caspase-3 gene.

Key words: EGCG, Gallic acid, Catechin, Ovarian neoplasms, Apoptosis, Caspase 3