Abstract: Objective: Growth inhibition effects of erianin on human colorectal cell line Caco-2 cells and its possible mechanism were studied.Methods: SRB assay was employed to evaluate the anti- proliferation effect of erianin on Caco-2 cells.The morphological changes of treated Caco- 2 cells were observed with 33342 staining.Cell cycle distribution and the proportion of apoptotic cells were evaluated using flow cytometry.Western Blotting analysis was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis related protein Caspase- 3. Results: Erianin inhibited proliferation of Caco-2 cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner and leaded to cell apoptosis.The IC50 value was 0.845 μg / m L after 48 h exposure to erianin. Cell cycle was arrested in G₂ phase. It was also observed that the expression of activity fragmentation of Caspase-3 showed a significant increase.Conclusion: Erianin could inhibit the proliferation of Caco- 2 cells and the apoptosis of Caco- 2 cells induced by erianin may be associated with mitochondrial pathway.