Abstract: ObjectiveEffect of ethanol extract of Forsythia suspensa leaf on human esophageal carcinoma cells propagation and apoptosis of TE-13 were studied. Methods The suppressive effect of FSEE in different concentration and time on several human esophageal carcinoma cells were analyzed by MTT method，the effect on quantity and morphologic changes of esophageal carcinoma cells was observed with microscope，TE-13 cells were stained with Giemsa and its morphologic changes were investigated.Affter treatment with different concentration FSEE for 24 h，apoptotic rate of TE-13 cells were stained by Annexin V/PI and then invested by FCM，and protein expression of PARP，Caspase 3，Caspase 8 and Caspase 9 was detected by western blot.Effect of FSEE on mRNA level of Bcl-xL，Bcl-2，Bax in TE-13 cell was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results FSEE can significantly inhibit esophageal carcinoma cells proliferation (P<0.05)，and this effect on TE-13 cells was in time and dose-dependent manner.By optical microscope，TE-13 cells showed typical cell apoptosis morphological changes.TE-13 cell apoptosis rate gradually increased in dose-dependent manner(P<0.01).As drug concentration (0.1，0.2，0.5 mg/ml) increased，PARP，Caspase3，Caspase9 proteins in TE-13 cells showed gradually cleavage fragments，but it was not found in Caspase8 protein.Expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL mRNA in TE-13 cells is decreased and expression level of Bax mRNA is strengthen after treatment with 0.1，0.2，and 0.5mg/ml FSEE for 24 h. Conclusion FSEE can significantly inhibit esophageal carcinoma cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro.It also can induce TE-13 cell apoptosis，which suggesting that its antitumor mechanism may be related with endogenous apoptosis pathway.