Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study was designed to observe the growth inhibition of the chinese honeylocust fruit extract on esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line EC9706. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The changes of cell morphology were examined by light microscope MTT assay , TUNEL cell apoptosis detection and western blotting were used to get information of EC9706 cells treated with the extract. RESULTS: Different concentrations (100－200 μg /ml)of the chinese honeylocust fruit extract significantly inhibited the growth of EC9706 cells(P<0.01),and displayed a concentration_dependent effect(r=0.768).The extract could induce apoptosis and regulate the expression of bcl_2 protein in EC9706 cells. CONCLUSION: The extract from chinese honeylocust fruit could inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of EC9706 cells. These may be associated with the decreased expression of bcl_2 in EC9706.

Key words: chinese honeylocust fruit, MTT, apoptosis, bcl_2, western blotting