To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of cancer cell growth by the Cassia tora L., the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 and -9 was measured in human tongue carcinoma TCA8113 cells by RT-PCR and western blot analyses after a 48-h incubation with different concentrations of Cassia tora L. solution. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is tongue cancer.