Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the inhibition effect of chrysin on the growth of human nasopharyngeal darcinoma CNE-2 cells.The cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8;the apoptosis bodies were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining;the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry;and the activity of caspase-3 was analyzed by caspase-3 activity assay kit.The proliferation of CNE-2 cells was inhibited by chrysin in the concentration and time-dependent manners.Chrysin induced the apoptosis of CNE-2 cells.Furthermore，chrysin dramatically induced G₀/G₁ phase cell increase and S phase cell decrease.Cell cycle was arrested at G₀/G₁ phase.Chrysin could elevate the caspase-3 activity observably.Chrysin markedly inhibited the proliferation of CNE-2 cells.The inhibition effect may be related to inducing the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest on CNE-2 cells.