Extract of Coprinus disseminatus (pers. Fr.) (C. disseminatus) culture broth (EDCB) inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in the human cervical carcinoma cells at 5 μg/ml. To determine whether the cell death induced by the EDCB recruits caspases or not, one of the exclusive pathways in cell death, we examined caspase-3 activity in this cell death process. The activity of caspase-3 was remarkably increased when the cell was treated with EDCB, and this activity was nullified by Z-VAD-FMK, a well known caspase-3 inhibitor. From then results, we would expect the EDCB to contain substances with the ability to induce apoptosis in the human cervical carcinoma cells. The extent of the EDCB induced apoptosis is cell line-dependent.