Abstract: Objective：To investigate the inhibition function of Tanshinone IIA which extracts from Tanshinone on human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell growth，and detect the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF in control group and the experimental group，then explore it’s mechanism. Methods：SKOV3 cell was cultured in vitro and divided into 2 groups randomly， the experimental groups were treated by Tan IIA with different dose. Inverted microscope was used to detect apoptosis. The proliferation inhibition was examined by MTT assay，and cell cycles and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry（FCM） .RT-PCR and immunocytochemical method were used to detect the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF. Results：Tan IIA could introduce apoptosis in human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell， and the effect paralleled with time and the concentration of drug， acted as a time-dose-dependent manner.FCM show that after treated by Tan IIA for 24、48、72 h， the apoptotic rate increased . RT-PCR and immunocytochemical method detected the protein and mRNA expression of MMP-2 and VEGF declined in experimental group， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Conclusions： Tan IIA can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and induce the cell apoptosis. Declining the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF might be the mechanism that Tan IIA induced apoptosis in human ovarian SKOV3 cells.

Key words: Tanshinone, Ovarian neoplasms, Apoptosis, Matrix metalloproteinase 2, Vascular endothelial growth factors