BACKGROUND Anti-tumor properties of hydroxysafflor-yellow A (HSYA) have been recently revealed, as a series of apoptotic factors were confirmed to be regulated by HSYA and associated with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Gamma (PPARγ). In this study, we investigated the cell apoptosis mechanism of HSYA via activated PPARγ signal in human gastric carcinoma cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS BGC-823 cells were cultured and divided into 5 independent groups: Tumor, HSYA, HSYA+PPARγ inhibitor (GW9662), and PPARg agonist (RGZ), RGZ+GW9662. Cell proliferative activity was measured by MTT. Apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. The nuclear translocation of PPARγ was detected by immunofluorescence staining chemistry, and mRNA levels of PPARγ and caspase-3 were measured by real-time qPCR. RESULTS Compared to the RGZ group, the HSYA group (100 µM) showed a similar inhibitory effect on the proliferation process of BGC-823 cells, inducing their apoptosis. As a result, the transition of BGC-823 cells from G0/G1 phase to S phase was blocked. HSYA was also found to promote the nuclear translocation of PPARγ, leading to increased expression of PPARγ and caspase-3. The regulatory effect of HSYA on BGC-823 cells could be further inhibited by PPARγ inhibitor in group GW9662. CONCLUSIONS We report the inhibitory effect of HSYA on the proliferation of BGC-823 cells, which results in activating PPARg-dependent cell cycle blocking and cell apoptosis, suggesting that PPARg is a specific type of HSYA that can induce apoptosis of BGC-823 cells.