Objective To study the changes of gene expression profiling in HL-60 cells treated by Chan'su, and the possible mechanisms of Chan'su-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Methods Apoptosis was determined by morphology and agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation. The changes of gene expression profiling were detected with DNA microarray. Results 1%(v/v) Chan'su could obviously induce HL-60 cells apoptosis. In the tested 1152 genes, mRNA expression levels of 9 genes changed prior to apoptosis in Chan'su-treated HL-60 cells. Of the 9 genes, 8 gene mRNA levels were up-regulated and 1 gene mRNA level was down-regulated. Conclusion Apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated by Chan'su was involved in many genes. Bcl-2 down-regulation and IL-8 up-regulation were closely correlated with the Chan'su-induced HL-60 cells apoptosis.