Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of triptolide on proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells.Methods MCF-7 cells were treated by different concentrations of triptolide.CCK-8 as-say was employed to detect the cell proliferation. The morphological changes were observed by an inverted micro-scope.The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry.Expressions of Bcl-2,Bax,Survivin and Caspase-3 were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results Triptolide inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner at a suitable range.Triptolide induced morphological changes and apoptosis.Triptolide also down-regulated Bcl-2 and Survivin expressions and up-regulated Bax and Caspase-3 expressions. Conclu-sions Triptolide inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of MCF-7 cells,and its mechanism may be related to down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Survivin expressions and up-regulation of Bax and Caspase-3 expressions.