AimTo study the effect of the total extract of astragalosides(TEA) on the growth, AFP secretion and γ-GT activity of human hepatoma cells invitro.Methods The human hepatoma HepG2 and Bel-7404 cells were cultured with TEA 5～160 mg · L-1 for 6 days. Anti-hepatoma activity was measured by MTT method. AFP was assaysed by ELISA and γ-GT was determined by enzyme-substrate method. Results The growth of the human hepatoma HepG2 and Bel-7404 cells and the secretion of AFP of HepG2 cells were reduced significantly by TEA 5～160 mg· L-1. The γ-GT activity of HepG2 cells was inhibited and its ALB content was increased by TEA 20, 40 and 80 mg · L-1. The γ-GT activity of Bel-7404 cell was inhibited and its ALB content was increased byTEA 40 and 80 mg · L-1 Conclusion These results suggest that TEA has inhibitory effects on the growth, AFP secretion and γ-GT activity of human hepatoma cells.