Abstract: AIM To study the protective effect of resveratrol-Sirt1-Foxo1 pathway on anoxic cardiocytes. METHODS H9C2 embryonal rat heart-derived cells were randomly divided into five groups: 20 μmol/L resveratrol (Res) group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, 40 mmol/L nicotinamide (Nam) group, Nam control group and normal control group. After the 24-hour culture, the expressions of Sirt1, Foxo1, p27, Bim mRNA and their proteins were respectively detected using RT-RCR and the immunocytochemical staining. The apotosis and cell cycle of H9C2 cells were analyzed by TUNEL staining followed by flow cytometry(FCM). RESULTS The expression of Sirt1 mRNA and protein increased after incubation with 20 μmol/L resveratrol. Sirt1 regulated p27 and Bim by inhibiting the transcription activity of Foxo1. More cells were arrested at the G0+G1 checkpoint and cell apoptosis decreased after treatment with resveratrol. CONCLUSION Res promotes the expression of Sirt1 and Sirt1 protects the cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induce apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest, which may be implemented by the regulation of Foxo1 and its downstream genes such as Bim and p27.