The results showed that compared with the control group, PD could increase the proliferation inhibition rate of U251 cells in a dose- and time -dependent manner; PD could also elevate the early and late apoptotic rate, apoptotic index and the level of pro-apoptotic proteins of glioma U251 cells, such as Bax and cleaved caspase-3, but lower the level of apoptosis inhibitory protein, such as Bcl-2; PD could increase the ratio of G0/G1 phase U251 cells, and lower the proportion of Sphase U251 cells and the ratio of G2/M phase U251 cells; PD could reduce the ratio of p-Akt/Akt. This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and central nervous system cancer.