We found that matrine could induce apoptosis of AML cells by collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria to cytosol, reduction of the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, activation of caspase-3, and down-regulation of p-Akt and p-ERK1/2. Here, CASP3 is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.