Objective:To investigate the biologic roles and potential reverse mechanisms of matrine in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY and QGY/CDDP.Methods:The MTT assay was used to detect the IC50s of QGY and QGY/CDDP cells

and QGY/CDDP cell were cultivated with matrine.The distinctions of three groups were compared in cell’s appearance

growth curve

doubling time

cell cycle

drug-resistance of chemotherapeutics and CDDP contents of intra-cells.Immunocytochemical method was applied to detect the expression of P-gp

MRP and Bax.Results: Matrine could inhibit the growth of QGY and QGY/CDDP cells with no cross drug-resistance.There were some biological differences among QGY

QGY/CDDP and Mat-QGY/CDDP cells.The expressions of P-gp and MRP were decreased;Bax expression was increased

CDDP’s toxic effect on QGY/CDDP cells was enhanced

and the drug sensitivity was elevated in Mat-QGY/CDDP cells.Conclusion:Matrine at lower toxic-dose could enhance the toxicity of CDDP on QGY/CDDP cells

and partly effective in reversing the drug-resistance in human multidrug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma QGY/CDDP cells.