Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of depsides salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma U251 cells, and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS The effect of depsides salts from salvia miltiorrhiza on proliferation of U251 cells was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle analysis was done by flow cytometry. AnnexinV-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit was used to detect apoptosis of cells．Real-time PCR(qRT-PCR) was employed to analyze expression of autophagy-related gene Beclin-1. RESULTS The growth inhibition of U251 cells by depsides salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza was in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment with 0.2 mg·mL^-1, cell cycle was arrested at G₀/G₁ phase, depsides salts from salvia miltiorrhiza also significantly enhanced apoptosis of U251 cells with up-regulated pro-autophagic gene Beclin-1. CONCLUSION Depsides salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza can inhibit the growth of glioma U251 cells, induce cell apoptosis, which may be related to raise expression of Beclin-1mRNA.