Abstract:The effect of the essential oil of kernel from wampee on proliferation and apoptosis in melanoma B16-F10 cells was investigated.The cell viability were detected by the3-（4，5-dimethl-2-thiazolyl）-2，5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide（MTT）assay after treatment with various concentration EOK in 24 h，48 h，72 h.Then，the mitochondrial membrane potential（MMP），the apoptosis rate，and expression of nuclear factor-кB（NF-кB P65），phosphorylate nuclear factor-кB（NF-кB P-P65），Cleaved-caspase 3，Bax and Bcl-2 were measeured by fluorescence staining.Annexin V-FITC/propidiun iodide （Annexin V-FITC/PI）staining，and western blot after the cells treated with EOK for 24 h，respectively.Results showed that EOK could inhibit the proliferation activity of cells in a dose-and time dependent manner.The result of Annexin V-FITC/PI staining demonstrated that the apoptotic rate was significantly increase after treated with EOK.Western blot results demonstrated that EOK caused significantly decreased the expression of NF-кB P65 and NF-кB P-P65.However，the expression of Cleaved-caspase 3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly increased.In conclude，EOK induced B16-F10 cells apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of NF-кB，inhibiting its phosphorylation and the activation of Bcl-2/Bax/caspase 3 pathway.