OBJECTIVE:To study the possible roles of Jinlong capsule(JLC) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3.METHODS:The human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3 were treated with JLC at the concentration of 0.05-1.00 mg/mL for 24-120 h.The inhibition rate of JLC on human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3 was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethiylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay.Flow cytometry was employed to measure cell apoptosis using Annexin V-FITC/Propidium iodide(AV-FITC/PI) method.Cell cycles were determined by PI staining.The expression of S100 Calcium binding protein A4(S100A4) in cell matrix was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression levels of apoptosis-related protein such as BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3(BNIP3),B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2) and Cys-teinylaspartate specific proteinase 3(Caspase-3) were detected byWestern blotting.RESULTS:JLC significantly inhibited the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3 in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.JLC promoted cell apoptosis and maintained cell cycle in S and G 2 /M phase rather than G 1 /G 0 phase.The expression of S100A4 in the cell matrix was reduced.The expression of cell apoptotic protein BNIP3 was increased while Bcl-2 was decreased.CONCLUSION:JLC can inhibit the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3 by stimulating cell apoptosis,arresting the cell cycle at S and G 2 /M phase which blocks the circulation of normal cell cycle and reducing the expression of S100A4 protein.Higher pro-apoptosis protein BNIP3 and lower anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 levels were found,which may be related to the apoptotic effects of JLC.