Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the different effects between two epimerides of anordrin(ANO) α and β monomer on human prostatic cancer. METHODS The monomers of α-ANO and β-ANO were purified and separated by alumina column chromatography, and were detected qualitatively by thin-layer chromatography；androgen-dependent and androgen-independent human prostatic cancer cells (androgen-dependent cells L1A, LNCaP, CWR22-RV1 and androgen-independent cells DU145, PC-3 ) were cultured with different concentrations (8, 16, 24, 32, 48 μmol·L-1) of α , β-ANO for 3 and 5 d respectively, SRB staining assay was used to detect cells survival; in androgen-depleted medium，L1A, LNCaP and CWR22-RV1 cells were cultured with different concentrations of α, β-ANO in the presence or absence of R1881 (a kind of androgen stimulant) for 3 and 5 d respectively, and SRB staining assay was used to detect cells survival；contrast phase microscope was used to observe the change of cellular morphology after LNCaP, DU145 cells being exposed to 32 μmol·L-1 α, β-ANO respectively. RESULTS The inhibition effect of α-ANO on human prostatic carcinoma cells was stronger than that of β-ANO in time and dose dependent manner; both α-ANO and β-ANO could antagonize the proliferation effect of R1881 and the effect of α-ANO was more stronger than of β-ANO in time and dose dependent manner; observed under contrast phase microscope, cells morphology change more significant after treatment with α-ANO than those treatment with β-ANO. CONCLUSION The suppressive effect of α-ANO on prostatic cancer cells line is stronger than that of β-ANO.