Objective:To investigate anticancer effect of realgar on human hepatocarcinoma cell line BEL-7402 in vitro.Methods:MTS assay and colony formation assay were used to elucidate the antiproliferative effect of realgar on BEL-7402 cells.PI/Hoechest33258 double dying and flow cytometer were carried out for cell apoptosis detection.Intercellular calcium concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected using spectrofluorophotometer.Results:Realgar inhibited cell growth and colony formation of BEL-7402 cells in a dose-dependent manner when comparing with control group.Morphological changes chromatin condense of cell apoptosis were observed in realgar treated BEL-7402 cells

and a dose-dependent apoptosis was shown by flow cytometer analysis.Apoptotic percentage of BEL-7402 cells treated with 225 μg/ml realgar was(28.6±4.6)% and higher than that in the control.Furthermore

intercellular calcium was increased and mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased inBEL-7402 cells treated by realgar compared with control.Conclusion:Realgar has anticancer effect

which might be associated with increasing intercellular calcium

decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and inducing apoptosis.