AIM: To investigate the effect of hot water-extracted Lycium barbarum (LBE) and Rehmannia glutinosa (RGB) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in rat and/or human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. METHODS: Rat (H-4-Ⅱ-E) and human HCC (HA22T/ VGH) cell lines were incubated with various concentrations (0-10 g/L) of hot water-extracted LBE and RGE. After 6-24 h incubation, cell proliferation (n = 6) was measured by a colorimetric method. The apoptotic cells (n = 6) were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of p53 protein (n = 3) was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. RESULTS: Crude LBE (2-5 g/L) and RGE (2-10 g/L) dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of H-4-Ⅱ-E cells by 11% (P < 0.05) to 85% (P < 0.01) after 6-24 h treatment. Crude LBE at a dose of 5 g/L suppressed cell proliferation of H-4-Ⅱ-E cells more effectively than crude RGE after 6-24 h incubation (P < 0.01). Crude LBE (2-10 g/L) and RGE (2-5 g/L) also dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of HA22T/VGH cells by 14%-43% (P < 0.01) after 24 h. Crude LBE at a dose of 10 g/L inhibited the proliferation of HA22T/VGH cells more effectively than crude RGE (56.8%±1.6% vs 70.3%±3.1% of control, P = 0.0003 < 0.01). The apoptotic cells significantly increased in H-4-Ⅱ-E cells after 24 h treatment with higher doses of crude LBE (2-5 g/L) and RGE (5-10 g/L) (P < 0.01). The expression of p53 protein in H-4-Ⅱ-E cells was 119% and 143% of the control group compared with the LBE-treated (2, 5 g/L) groups, and 110% and 132% of the control group compared with the RGE -treated (5,10 g/L) groups after 24 h. CONCLUSION: Hot water-extracted crude LBE (2-5 g/L) and RGE (5-10 g/L) inhibit proliferation and stimulate p53-mediated apoptosis in HCC cells. AIM: To investigate the effect of hot water-extracted Lycium barbarum (LBE) and Rehmannia glutinosa (RGB) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in rat and / or human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. After 6-24 h incubation, cell proliferation (n = 6) was measured with various concentrations (0-10 g / L) of hot water-extracted LBE and RGE The expression of p53 protein (n = 3) was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. RESULTS: Crude LBE (2-5 g / L ) and RGE (2-10 g / L) dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of H-4-II-E cells by 11% (P <0.05) to 85% Crude LBE (2-10 g / L) and RGE (2 g / L) were stimulated at a dose of 5 g / L suppressed cell proliferation of H-4- 2-5 g / L) also dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of HA22T / VGH cells by 14% -43% (P <0.01) after 24 h. Crude LBE at a dose of 10 g / L inhibited the proliferation of HA22T / VGH cells more effectively than crude RGE (56.8% ± 1.6% vs 70.3% ± 3.1% of control, P = 0.0003 <0.01). The apoptotic cells significantly increased in H-4-II-E cells after 24 h treatment with higher doses of crude LBE (2-5 g / L) and RGE (P <0.01). The expression of p53 protein in H-4-II-E cells was 119% and 143% of the control group compared with the LBE-treated (2, 5 g / L) and 110% and 132% of the control group compared with the RGE-treated (5, 10 g / L) groups after 24 h. CONCLUSION: Hot water-extracted crude LBE 10 g / L) inhibited proliferation and stimulate p53-mediated apoptosis in HCC cells.