This study is to explore the inhibitory effect of methyl jasmonate on cell proliferation and expression of XIAP and survivin of human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C. After cultivation of 1 - 2 mmol x L(-1) jasmonates with BE (2) -C cells for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibiting rates of BE (2) -C cells were studied by MTT colorimetry. Cell proliferation was detected by colony formation assay. Cell cycle phases were assayed by propidium iodide staining flow cytometery. Cell apoptosis was inspected by acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining, Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining, and Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining flow cytometry. Expressions of cyclin D1, XIAP and survivin were determined by RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Methyl jasmonate inhibited the growth of BE(2)-C cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After addition of 1, 1.5 and 2 mmol x L(-1) of methyl jasmonate for 24 h, the inhibiting rates of cell growth reached 20.6% - 85.5% (P < 0.01), and the IC50 was 1.35 mmol x L(-1). The cell cycles were arrested at S phase. A part of cells presented the characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis. The early apoptotic rates were 13.51%, 17.32%, 24.59% (P < 0.01) and the cell death rates were 29.36% , 54.73% , 75.52% (P < 0.01), respectively. The expression of XIAP and survivin mRNA were downregulated by 18.5% - 68.9% , 22.4% - 48.7% (P < 0.05), respectively, without change in that of cyclin D1. The results indicated that methyl jasmonate could significantly inhibit the growth of BE(2) -C cells through inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, downregulating the expression of XIAP and survivin might be one of its molecular mechanisms of action.