To investigate the effect of treatment with resveratrol combined with imatinib mesylate on human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell growth inhibition and apoptosis, in vitro cultured human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells were incubated with different concentrations of resveratrol and imatinib mesylate when the cells were in the logarithmic phase. Next, the cell growth inhibition was evaluated using the MTT assay and cellular morphology observation. Apoptosis was determined using Annexin V fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining. The results demonstrated that treatment with resveratrol (concentration-dependent) and imatinib mesylate showed significantly greater inhibition of K562 cell growth and a higher apoptosis rate of K562 cells than imatinib mesylate medication alone and the control group (P < 0.01). The imatinib mesylate medication alone group showed significant inhibition of K562 cell growth and apoptosis rate of K562 cells compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Our findings indicate that imatinib mesylate and resveratrol are potent drug treatments for human chronic myelogenous leukemia, offering a promising means of inhibiting cell growth and apoptosis.