Objective To investigate the effects of salidroside on proliferation and invasive ability of glioma U87-MG cells; To discuss the its mechanism to induce apoptosis of U87-MG cells. Methods U87-MG cells were cultured in vitro for 24 h under different concentrations of salidroside and camptothecin. The proliferation of U87-MG cells was detected by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate of U87-MG cells was detected by flow cytometry. Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of U87-MG cells. ROS was detected by indirect fluorescent labeling. The expressions of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in U87-MG cells were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the blank control group, U87-MG cells had significant inhibitory effect on the growth of U87-MG cells in each administration group, and the invasive ability of U87-MG cells was significantly reduced after 10, 50, 100 μg/mL salidroside was intervened, and 10, 50, 100 μg/mL salidroside for 48 h for U87-MG cells could induce apoptosis of the cells; the level of ROS was positively correlated with the concentration of salidroside; 10, 50, 100 μg/mL salidroside up-regulated the expressions of Caspase-3, Bax and E-cadherin, and down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2, N-cadherin and MMP-9. Conclusion Salidroside can induce apoptosis of U87-MG cells and inhibit the invasive ability of U87-MG cells.