Objective To evaluate the effect of deoxyviolacein on the apoptosis in HT29 cells and its possible mechanisms of anticancer effects. Methods In vitro,human colon cancer HT29 cells were treated by deoxyviolacein in a series of concertrations.The absorbance value was detected by means of MTT assay and growth inhibition rate was calculate.Cell cycle and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.The expression of Bax,Bcl-2 and Caspase9 were analyzed by Western blotting.Results Deoxyviolacein could inhibit the growth of human colon cancer HT29 cells.The cells at period G₀/G₁ and the apoptosis rates were significantly increased,and the cells at period S were significantly decreased.The expression of Bax,Caspase9 were upregulated and Bcl-2 was downregulated by deoxyviolacein at 48 hours. Conclusions Deoxyviolacein could inhibit the growth and induce apoptpsis of human colon cancer HT29 cells.The mechanism may be associated with up-regulation of Bax and Caspase9 and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.