OBJECTIVE: To study the induction effect of ent-kaurane diterpenoid Leukamenin E on the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. METHODS: Trypan blue staining, Giemsa’s staining, NBT reduction test, fluorescent particles phagocytosis test and flow cytometry were used to detect the number of HL-60 cells after treated with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 μmol/L Leukamenin E and 1.2 μmol/L all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 24,48,72 and 96 h, and the cellular nucleus morphology, NBT-reducing ability (by NBT positive cell rate), phagocytic ability (by fluorescence intensity of fluorescence probe P) and the expression of antigen CD11b after treated for 72 h were observed. RESULTS: Compared with blank control, the number of HL-60 cells decreased after treated with 0.3-1.2 μmol/L Leukamenin E and 1.2 μmol/L ATRA for 48, 72 and 96 h; the number of band nucleus and segmented nuclei increased after treated for 72 h (P<0.01); the rate of positive NBT cells and the expression of CD11b increased (P<0.01); the fluorescence intensity of P strengthened. CONCLUSIONS: Leukamenin E could induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells to mature granulocyte, which is similar to the effects on HL-60 cells induced by leukemia differentiation therapeutic agent ATRA.