Lycorine, an alkaloid extracted from Amaryllidaceae genera, exhibits antitumor activities against several human solid-tumor and leukemia cells with extensive influence on various cell signaling molecules. However, the effect of lycorine on bladder cancer has not yet been investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that lycorine induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer T24 cells, an effect that is mediated via inhibition of phospho-Akt expression and the consequent activation of caspase-3 and Bax in vitro. In an in vivo experiment, T24 cells were subcutaneously implanted in the right rear flank of nu/ nu mice. Lycorine treatment for 14 days significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with that in controls. Collectively, our findings suggest that lycorine suppressed the Akt pathway and activated the intrinsic apoptotic cascade, leading to the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. We suggest that lycorine can be a viable therapeutic option for bladder cancer patients. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.