【Objective】 To investigate the role of acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells in cell growth and the possible mechanism of cell apoptosis by dauricine. 【Methods】 In this study

CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation rate of NB4 cell. atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to detect the changes in morphological and ultrastructure of NB4 cells before and after dauricine treatment. Cell apoptosis rate

mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)

and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. 【Results】 The result showed that dauricine directly inhibited growth and proliferation of NB4 cells. Cells were incubated with 20 to 80 μmol/L dauricine after 24 h

the cell viability was decreased from (86.5 ± 11.7)% to (4.1 ± 0.5)%. In addition

cells were treated with 10 to 40 μmol/L dauricine for 24 h. The flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cell apoptosis rate and ROS level was significantly increased and MMP was decreased. The AFM results indicated that normal cells were round and plump

the surface was smooth. Dauricine made the NB4 cell began to collapse

and the mean roughness of cells surface rised. 【Conclusion】 Dauricine directly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of NB4 cells.