Abstract: OBJECTIVE To prepare harmine liposomes and optimize their preparation process, and to evaluate the characteristics of liposomes and their toxicity to liver cancer cells. METHODS The harmine liposomes were prepared by membrane hydration method. Taking the encapsulation rate as the evaluation index, the influence of the mass ratio of soybean lecithin to drug, the mass ratio of soybean lecithin to cholesterol and the ultrasound time as evaluation factors on the encapsulation rate of liposomes was studied. The particle size, Zeta potential, appearance and stability of liposomes were evaluated. The CCK-8 method was used to compare the anti-proliferative activity of harmine and harmine liposomes on liver cancer cells. RESULTS The optimal preparation process was as follows:the mass ratio of soybean lecithin to drug was 11.4:1, the mass ratio of soybean lecithin to cholesterol was 4.4:1, and the ultrasound time was 33 min. The encapsulation efficiency of liposomes prepared under these conditions was about 81.88%, the particle size was 143.65 nm, the Zeta potential was -12.68 mV, which stability was good in low temperature environment with slow release effect. The anti proliferative activity of harmine liposomes on liver cancer cells was greater than that of naked drugs. CONCLUSION The encapsulation rate and stability of the prepared harmine liposomes meet the standard. The preparation of harmine as a liposome can improve the its proliferative activity on liver cancer cells.