【Objective】To explore the anti- leukemia mechanism of quercetin through observing apoptosis and autophagy of HL-60 cells and examining the expressions of AMP-activated protein kinase（AMPK）.【Methods】The effect of quercetin on apoptosis and autophagy in human acute myeloid leukemia HL- 60 cells were detected by flow cytometry，Western-blot and electron microscopy. The proteins expression of AMPK，p-AMPKin HL-60 cells incubated with quercetin were tested by Western-blot. Western-blot and flow cytometry were used to test the AMPK and p-AMPK expressions and the chang of apoptosis and autophagy in HL-60 cells，which were incubated with quercetin and AMPK inhibitor（Compound C）.【Results】Quercetin induced cell apoptosis. The quercetin concentrations and time of action were both the major factors affecting the apoptosis of HL- 60 cells. The autophagosomes were observated by electron microscopy in HL-60 cells which were incubated with different concentrations of quercetin（25，50 μmol/L）for 24 h and 48 h. The difference of autophagy fluorescence intensity which were analyzed by flow cytometry were significant among the control groups and the different concentration quercetin groups（P = 0.001）. The difference of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratios were also significant among the control group and the different concentration quercetin groups（P < 0.001）. Quercetin activated the phosphorylation of AMPK in HL- 60 cell（P = 0.001）.While HL- 60 cells were incubated both with quercetin and Compound C，Compound C can not only inhibit the phosphorylation of AMPK，but also the apoptosis and autophagy induced by quercetin in HL-60 cells.【Conclusions】Quercetin induced apoptosis and autophagy in HL-60 cells through modulated the activity of AMPK.