The relationship between tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism and inhibitory effects of triptolide on TNF-alpha production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy humans was investigated. Genomic DNA from 41 healthy people was typed for TNF-alpha--308 polymorphism by allele-specific polymorphism chain reaction (AS-PCR). The TNF-alpha concentration in the supernatant was measured by ELISA. The results showed that the production of TNF-alpha from TNF-alpha--308 non-G/G genotype PBMC was higher than that from TNF-alpha--308 G/G genotype PBMC after stimulated by LPS. Triptolide could lower the production of TNF-alpha from G/ G genotype PBMC, but had no effect on the level of TNF-alpha from non-G/G genotype PBMC. It was concluded that TNF-alpha gene polymorphism was related to the TNF-alpha production from triptolide-inhibited PBMC culture in healthy humans.