Background and purpose: Reports showed that berbefine not only had an effect ofdetoxification and inflammation but also could induce the cell to apoptosis. Berberine may also inhibit the migration and metastasis of tumor. To investigate the effects and mechanism of berberine on migration and metastasis of A549 cells, the proliferation, mobility and adhesion of A549 cells were observed after incubation with berberine. Methods: The proliferation was determined by MTT. Wound healing assay and adhesion test were used to observe the mobility and adhesion rate. The mRNA and protein expressions of MMP2 and MMP9 were assessed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR and gelatin zymography, respectively. Results: Berberine could significantly inhibit the proliferation ofA549 within a certain range of treating time and dose (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of MMP2 and MMP9 gene were decreased slightly by the treatment ofberberine (P<0.05), especially at dose of 100 μg/ml. Conclusion: Berberine can inhibit the migration and adhesion abilities of A549 cells, probably by down-regulating the expression and activation of MMP2 and MMP9.