Objective. The present study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of artesunate on the growth and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, in order to search for high effective and low toxic anti-gastric cancer drugs. Methods. Flow cytometry was used to detect the CDC25A protein expression in different gastric diseases. After the treatment of different concentrations of artesunate (0, 30, 60, 120 mu mol/1) on the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 cells for 24 h, 0 mu mol/1 Art was instead of normal saline as control group, the expression of CDC25A, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 protein, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Results. The CDC25A protein expression in gastric adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal gastric tissues. After the treatment of different concentrations of Art, the apoptosis rate of SGC-7901 cells in Art groups was significantly higher than that in control group. The proliferation index and CDC25A protein of SGC-7901 cells in Art groups was significantly lower than that in control group. Compared with control group, the Bcl-2 protein and mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower but the Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression level was significantly higher. Conclusions. The high expression of CDC25A protein in gastric adenocarcinoma is involved in the occurrence and development of gastric adenocarcinoma. Artesunate can inhibit the growth of gastric adenocarcinoma cells SGC-7901 and induce the cell apoptosis, the mechanism may be related to the regulation of CDC25A, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and mitochondrial membrane potential in SGC-7901 cells. (C) 2018 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.