Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on inducing the apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell SKOV3. Methods The inhibition of DHA on SKOV3 proliferation was detected by MTT. Apoptosis rate was evaluated by fl ow cytometry assay. mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by RT-PCR assay. Results DHA signifi cantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells in a time and dose dependent manner. After SKOV3 cells treated with DHA, the IC50 value of 24, 28 and 72 h was 117, 35.677 and 23.382 μmol/L respectively. DHA could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, reduce the expression of Bcl-2 and increase the expression of Bax, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Conclusion Dihydroartemisinin could be a suppressor for ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vitro. DHA could induce the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells by upregulating Bax protein expression and downregulating Bcl-2 gene.