To investigate the inhibitory effect and apoptosis mechanism of arctigenin on C6 glioma cells. Methods:Arctigenin acted on C6 glioma cells. CCK-8 was used to detect the growth inhibition rate of each group; flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis rate of different group; the levels of TNF-α and IL-2 were detected by ELISA; the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and NF-кb proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results:Compared with the blank group, arctigenin (2.5～40 μmol/L) significantly inhibited the growth of C6 glioma cells and induced apoptosis of tumor cells in concentration-dependent; after treatment with arctigenin, the levels of TNF-α and IL-2 in the cells were increased; arctigenin could up-regulate the expression of Bax protein and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and NF-кb Proteins. Conclusion:Arctigenin can promote the apoptosis of C6 glioma cells, which maybe through enhance the levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and up-regulated Bax protein, down-regulate Bcl-2 and NF-кb proteins levels.