Abstract: The effects of carotenoids extracts from Potamogoton crispus L.(CEPC)on proliferation and apoptosis of Helacells were studied.This paper adopted visible light,fluorescence,electron microscopy and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope(LSCM)to observe the cellular morphology of Hela cells under the effecfs of CEPC.After cells were treated with 2.5,5,10μg/ml CEPC,respectively,many typical apoptotic morphological features were observed by these apparatus,such as:the number of cells decreased,the cells shrunk,the cells distorted,the volume reduced,the antennas prolonged,the shape of cell nucleuses appeared like crescent or piece,the villus of cell membrane surface reduced,the vacuole inside plasm obviously increased,the chromosome in the cell nucleus shrunk and the content of RNA in the cell increased.So it suggested that the carotenoids of Potamogoton crispus L.have a marked inhibition on the proliferation of Hela cells and can induce Hela cells apoptosis.

Key words: Potamogeton crispus, carotenoids, Hela cells, apoptosis, cellular morphology