Objective To observe the effect of plant alkaloid oxymatrine (OMT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of bladder cancer cell line T24 and the possible molecular mechanism. Methods The effects of OMT (0.625, 1.25, 2.5 mg/mL) on the viability and apoptosis of T24 cells were examined by optic, electron microscopy and flow cytometric analysis (FCM). The expression of survivin and caspase-3 genes was detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of survivin and caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blotting analysis. Results Typical apoptotic morphologies were observed under optic microscope and electron microscope, and the apoptosis peaks were observed by FCM after treatment with OMT. OMT significantly suppressed survivin expression and up-regulated caspase-3 expression (P<0.05). Conclusion OMT can induce apoptosis of human bladder cancer T24 cell line by decreasing survivin expression and enhancing caspase-3 expression.