Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of the grub extract on proliferation and apoptosis of HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells in vitro and explore its probable molecular mechanisms. Methods The distribution of cells cycle and the apoptotic rate were observed by flow cytometry.Apoptotic cells were determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.The p53,Fas, bcl-2,and Bax proteins were determined by immunohistochemical SP staining technique. Results (1) The grub petroleum extract was able to induce the apoptosis of HeLa cells;Typical sub-dipioid peaks were observed.The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase were increased while the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phase were decreased after the grub extract treatment so the grub extract could arrest HeLa cells in G0/G1 phase; (2) The apoptosis of HeLa cells induced by the grub extract was in a concentration and time dependent manner.(3) After treated with the extract,bcl-2 and p53 protein expressions were decreased while Bax and Fas were increased; the expression of four kinds protein were significantly changed between different treatment groups (P<0.01). Conclusion (1)The grub petroleum ether extract has significant inhibition of proliferation and inducing apoptosis for HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell line in vitro.(2) Apoptosis of HeLa cells induced by the grub petroleum ether may be related with arresting cell cycle in G0/G1 phase.The mechanism of inducing apoptosis for HeLa might be related by down-regulation expression of bcl-2、p53 and up-regulation expression of Bax、Fas.It might be induce apoptosis in HeLa cells by the Fas-dependent pathway and mitochondria pathway.