Matrine　is　a　widely　used　Chinese　herbal　medicine　that　has　historically　been　used　in　the　treatment　of　inflammation　and　cancer.　However,　the　antimetastatic　effects　and　associated　molecular　mechanisms　of　matrine　on　nasopharyngeal　carcinoma　(NPC)　remain　to　be　elucidated.　Therefore,　the　aims　of　the　present　study　were　to　assess　the　antimetastatic　effects　of　matrine　on　NPC,　and　identify　the　underlying　mechanisms.　Matrine　inhibited　the　proliferation　of　NPC　cells　in　vitro　and　in　vivo.　Furthermore,　matrine　inhibited　the　migration　and　invasion　of　NPC　tumor　cells　at　doses　below　the　toxic　range.　Following　treatment　with　matrine　for　24　h,　there　was　a　decrease　in　the　protein　expression　levels　and　activities　of　matrix　metalloproteinase　(MMP)-2　and　MMP-9　in　NPC-039　cells.　In　addition,　matrine　markedly　reduced　the　expression　levels　of　p65　and　p50　in　the　nuclei.　Combined　treatment　of　matrine　with　helenalin,　a　nuclear　factor-kappa　B　(NF-kappa　B)　inhibitor　resulted　in　a　synergistic　reduction　in　MMP-2　and　MMP-9　expression　levels,　and　the　invasive　capabilities　of　the　NPC-039　cells　were　also　reduced.　In　conclusion,　matrine　inhibits　NPC　cell　migration　and　invasion　by　suppressing　the　NF-kappa　B　pathway.　These　results　suggest　that　matrine　may　be　a　potential　therapeutic　agent　for　NPC.