Objective:To discuss the effects of Bushen Huoxue Recipe on the differentiation and proliferation of mouse limb bud cells into chondrocytes. Methods The limb bud cells of 12.5-day mouse embryo were isolated and cultured, and then treated with medicated serum of Bushen Huoxue Recipe. The proliferation activity of limb bud cells was detected by MTT, the differentiation capacity of limb bud cells into chondrocytes was observed by alcian blue staining, and the mRNA expression levels of Col2a1, Col10a1, Mmp9, β-catenin and Runx2 in limb bud cells were detected by RT-PCR.  Results:Compared with the blank control group, the proliferation of mouse limb bud cells was promoted in medicated serum group of Bushen Huoxue Recipe at timepoints of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. After micromass culture for 6 days, the alcian blue staining showed that the cartilage formation was increased in the medicated serum group of Bushen Huoxue Recipe. The RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of Col2a1 in limb bud cells was up-regulated in the medicated serum group of Bushen Huoxue Recipe, while the mRNA expression levels of Col10a1, Mmp9, β-catenin and Runx2 were down-regulated.  Conclusion:The medicated serum of Bushen Huoxue Recipe may promote the proliferation and differentiation of mouse embryo limb bud cells through β-catenin signaling pathway.