Objective Zhenzhushecao Capsule(ZZSCC), a complex prescription with clinical effect on chronic atrophic gastritis. The present study investigated the effect and mechanism of Zhenzhushecao Capsule on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cell line AGS. Methods Cell viability was measured by MTT analysis. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry(FCM). Caspase-3 activity was measured by colorimetric method. The changes of cell morphologic appearance after treatment were observed. Results ZZSCC inhibited AGS cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G2/M stage, and also induced cell apoptosis. ZZSCC significantly increased Caspase-3 activity after administration for 24, 48 h. Conclusion The whole prescription of ZZSCC could inhibit AGS cell growth, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in an dose-independent manner. The apoptosis promotion effect may be related to increased Caspase-3 activity.