Abstract: Objective:To investigate the effect of artesunate(ART)on apoptosis of rat submandibular gland epithelial cells in high glucose environment in vitro.Methods:Rat submandibular gland epithelial cells were cultured, purified and identified in vitro.The CCK-8 assay and western blotting were used to detect the effects of different concentrations of glucose on the proliferation and function of rat submandibular gland epithelial cells.The medium containing 50 mmol/L glucose was used to simulate the high glucose environment in vitro.The cells were divided into normal control group(Con group), high glucose model group(HG group)and different concentrations of ART intervention groups(HG+5 μmol/L ART group, HG+10 μmol/L ART group, HG+20 μmol/L ART group, HG+40μmol/L ART group).The expression levels of aquaporin 5 (AQP5), Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax), B cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 protein(Bcl-2)and Caspase-3 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting.Results:With the increase of glucose concentration in high glucose environment, the inhibition rate of rat submandibular gland epithelial cells increased and the protein expression level of AQP5 decreased (P< 0.05).Compared with the Con group, the expression levels of AQP5 protein, Bcl-2 gene and protein in the HG group significantly decreased, while the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 gene and protein significantly increased(P< 0.05).Compared with the HG group, the expression levels of Bcl-2 gene and protein and AQP5 protein in different concentrations of ART intervention groups increased, while the expression levels of Bax, and Caspase-3 gene and protein decreased (P< 0.05).Conclusion:ART has a protective effect on rat submandibular gland epithelial cells in high glucose environment, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of apoptosis.