Objective: To discuss the effect of D-limonene on the proliferation and apoptosis of the glioblastoma (GBM) cells, and to clarify its possible mechanism. Methods: The GBM cells were divided into control group (0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene) and 0. 2, 0. 4, 0. 6, 0. 8, and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups. CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in various groups; clone formation assay was used to detect the clone formation rates of the cells in various groups; Annexin V-FITC/PI method was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells in various groups; Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of protein kinase B (AKT), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) proteins in the cells in various groups; imunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in the cells in various groups. Fifteen model mice with subcutaneous tumor xenografts were randomly divided into blank group (0 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 D-limonene), low dose of D-limonene group (200 mg·kg-·1 d-1 D-limonene), and high dose of D-limonene group (400 mg· kg·-1 d-1 D-limonene), and there were 5 mice in each group. The inhibitory rates of the tumor in vitro in various groups were calculated; HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the morphology of subcutaneous tumor tissue of the mice in various groups and the growth curves of the tumor were drawn; immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the positive expression rates of Ki67 protein in subcutaneous tumor tissue of the mice in various groups; TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of the tumor cells in various groups. Results: In control group, the cells were spindle-shaped, in good condition, growing closely and adherently, with normal organelles and cytoplasm. After treated for 48 h, the cells in 0. 6 mmol·L-1 D-limonene group showed reduced volume, intact but more permeable cell membranes, shrunken cytoplasm, internal vacuole structures, and some fragments floating in the solution. The cells in 0. 8 and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups exhibited significant apoptotic bodies and were in an apoptotic state. The CCK-8 results showed that compared with control group, the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the U87, LN229, and GL261 cells in 0. 6, 0. 8, and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01), the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the U87 and GL261 cells were significantly increased (P<0. 01). The clone formation assay results showed that compared with control group, the clone formation rates of the U87, LN229, and GL261 cells in 0. 4, 0. 6, and 0. 8 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). The Annexin V-FITC/PI results showed that compared with control group, after treated with D-limonene for 48 h, the apoptotic rates of the LN229 cells in 0. 6, 0. 8, and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01). The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group, the expression levels of Bax proteins in the LN229 cells in 0. 6, 0. 8, and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01), while the expression levels of AKT and Bcl-2 proteins were significantly decreased (P<0. 01), the expression level of PARP protein in the LN229 cells in 0. 8 and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene group was significanthy increased (P<0. 01). The immunofluorescence results showed that compared with control group, the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in the LN229 cells in 0. 6, 0. 8, and 1. 0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01). Compared with blank group, the tumor volumes of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). Compared with blank group, the tumor weights of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05), and the inhitory rates of tumor were significantly increased (P<0. 05). The tumor cells in blank group were diffusely distributed, with deepened nuclear staining and increased nucleocytoplasmic ratio; a large number of degenerated and necrotic tumor cells were observed in tumor tissue of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups. Compared with blank group, the positive expression rates of Ki67 protein in tumor tissue of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). Compared with blank group, the apoptotic rates of tumor cells of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01). Conclusion: D-limonene has the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the GBM cells; its mechanism may be related to the regulation of AKT protein expression and the activation of the Caspase-3 pathway to induce the apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]