Objective:To investigate the intervention effects of 12 kinds of ethanol extracts of Chinese traditional medicine on TGF-β1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells, including Fuling(Poria), Puhuang(Typhae Pollen), Baiji(Bletillae Rhizoma), Jixueteng(Spatholobi Caulis), Yujin(Curcumae Radix), Honghua(Carthami Flos), Niuxi(Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Heshouwu(Polygoni multiflora Radix), Huangqi(Astragali seu Hedysari Radix), Xianmao(Curculigins Rhizoma), Luxiancao(Pyrolae Herba)and Baihuashen. MethodsThe A549 cells were stimulated by 10 ng/ml TGF-β1. The effects of 12 kinds of ethanol extracts of Chinese traditional medicine on the proliferation of A549 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. The effects of ethanol extracts on the changes of cell morphology induced by TGF-β1 were observed. The effects of ethanol extracts on the expressions of EMT associated protein biomarkers and the activity of EMT associated signal transduction were detected by Western blot.  Results:After stimulation with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 for 48 hours, the A549 cells showed the EMT process. The ethanol extract of Heshouwu showed no effect on the proliferation of A549 cells. Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the ethanol extract of Heshouwu at 100 μg/ml could reverse the morphological changes of A549 cells. Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the ethanol extract of Heshouwu at 100 μg/ml could decrease the protein expression level of vimentin (P<0.05) and increase the protein expression level of E-cadherin (P<0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the ethanol extract of Heshouwu at 100 μg/ml could decrease the protein expression levels of p-Smad2 and p-Erk(P<0.05).  Conclusion:The ethanol extract of Heshouwu can inhibit the TGF-β1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells, which may be associated with Smad2 and Erk1/2 signaling pathway.