Abstract:Objective To investigate the anticancer effects and molecular mechanism of betulinic acid (BA)on Raji cells in vitro.Methods The effects of BA on the growth of Raji cells were studied by MTT assay.Apoptosis was assessed by Annexin-V/PI double-labeled cytometry.The influence on cell cycle was studied by flow cytometer.The cyclin D3 mRNA expression was checked by Western blotting and RT-PCR techniques.Results BA showed obvious inhibition on proliferation,as well as induction potency of apoptosis on Raji cells in vitro in a time-and dose-dependent manner by Annexin-V/PI double-labeled method.With the IC(50)value for 24 h being(39.44±0.65)μg/mL,Raji cells treated with BA showed ac- cumulation in G0/G1 phase and reduction in the percentage of cells in S phase.The cyclin D3 mRNA ex- pression and protein were sharply decreased in Raji cells treated with BA.Conclusion BA could inhibit the proliferation of Raji cells by regulating the cell cycle that arrests cells at G0/G1 phase and induces apop- tosis of Raji cells.The antitumor effects of BA may be related to down-regulation of the expression of cy- clin D3.