The human glioma U87 cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group （without treatment），EMT group ［EMT induced by transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）］ and different concentrations （2.5， 5.0， 7.5 and 10 μmol·L^－1） of NC groups （different concentrations of NC+10 μg·L^－1 TGF-β1）. After 48 h of treatment， the cell migration rates，the invasion rates and the expression levels of EMT-related proteins and JAK2 / STAT3 pathway-related proteins were detected by wound healing test， Transwell invasion test and Western blotting method， respectively. When inducing EMT in the U87 cells， the JAK2 / STAT3 pathway was blocked by STAT3 inhibitor WP1066. The U87 cells were divided into control group （without treatment）， EMT group （10 μg·L^－1 TGF-β1） and EMT + WP1066 group （10 μg·L^－1 TGF-β1 + 8 μmol·L^－1WP1066）； the expression levels of EMT-related proteins in the cells in various group were detected by Western blotting method.

The cell migration rate and invasion rate in EMT group were significantly higher than those in control group （P<0.01）， while the cell migration rate and invasion rate in NC group were significantly lower than those in EMT group （P<0.01）. Compared with control group， the expression level of E-cadherin in the U87 cells in EMT group was decreased（P<0.01）， while the expression levels of N-cadherin， vimentin， β-catenin， and the transcription factors Snail， Slug and Twist1 proteins were increased （P<0.05 or P<0.01）. Compared with EMT group， the expression levels of E-cadherin in different concentrations of NC groups were increased （P<0.05 or P<0.01）， and the expression levels of N-cadherin， vimentin， β-catenin， and transcription factors Snail， Slug and Twist1 proteins were significantly reduced （P<0.01） in a concentration-dependent manner； 7.5 μmol·L^－1NC could significantly inhibit the EMT of glioma cells. Compared with control group，the expression levels of JAK2 and p-JAK2 proteins in the cells in EMT group had no significant differences（P>0.05），and the expression levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3 in the cells were significantly decreased（P<0.05）.Compared with EMT group，the expression levels of JAK2，p-JAK2， STAT3 and p-STAT3 proteins in the cells in different NC groups were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. In JAK2/STAT3 pathway blocking experiment by STAT3 inhibitor WP1066， the expression levels of E-cadherin proteins in the cells in EMT+WP1006 group was significantly increased（P<0.01），and the expression levels of N-cadherin，vimentin，β-catein Twist1，Slug and Snail proeins were significantly decreased（P<0.01）.

NC can inhibit the EMT of glioma cells， and the inhibitory effect is related to JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.