The growth inhibition and pro-apoptosis effects of dracorhodin perchlorate on 
human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line were examined. After administration of 
10-80 μmol/L dracorhodin perchlorate for 12-48 h, cell viability of PC-3 cells 
was measured by MTT colorimetry. Cell proliferation ability was detected by 
colony formation assay. Cellular apoptosis was inspected by acridine 
orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining, Hoechst 33258 fluorescent 
staining, and flow cytometry (FCM) with annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide dual 
staining. The results showed that dracorhodin perchlorate inhibited the growth 
of PC-3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IC50 of dracorhodin perchlorate on 
PC-3 cells at 24 h was 40.18 μmol/L. Cell clone formation rate was decreased by 
86% after treatment with 20 μmol/L of dracorhodin perchlorate. Some cells 
presented the characteristic apoptotic changes. The cellular apoptotic rates 
induced by 10-40 μmol/L dracorhodin perchlorate for 24 h were 8.43% to 47.71% 
respectively. It was concluded that dracorhodin perchlorate significantly 
inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells by suppressing proliferation and inducing 
apoptosis of the cells.