Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of echinacoside on the ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.METHODS Different doses of echinacoside were used to treat ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,and cell survival rate was detected by CCK8 after 24 h.Different echinacoside concentration(0,20,40,80μmol·L^-1) were selected for subsequent experiments,and EdU staining was used to detect cell proliferation;Transwell was employed to detect cell invasion;Western blotting was commended to detect the expression of VEGF,E-cadherin,Vimentin and p38 MAPK phosphorylation level.Microscopically observed the tumor spheroids.Flow cytometry was performed to detect the content of CD133 and CD44.RESULTS The survival rate of SKOV3 cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner,when echinacoside concentration ≥ 40μmol·L^-1,the survival rate of SKOV3 cells was significantly lower than that of echinacoside 0μmol·L^-1(P<0.05).Compared with the echinacoside0μmol·L^-1 group,the number of EdU-positive cells and invasion cells in the echinacoside 40μmol·L^-1 group and echinacoside80μmol·L^-1 group were significantly reduced(P<0.05);the expression of VEGF,Vimentin protein and p38 MAPK phosphorylation level were significantly reduced(P<0.05);the expression level of E-cadherin protein was significantly increased(P<0.05);tumor stem cell bulb diameter decreased significantly(P<0.05),and the number of bulb formation decreased significantly(P<0.05);the expression of CD133 and CD44 were significantly reduced(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Echinacoside can inhibit the proliferation,invasion,stem cell-like properties and the p38 MAPK phosphorylation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.