In this study, we studied the effects of rose extract (RE) on the growth and apoptosis of yeast cells under arsenic stress. Ascorbic acid solution (Vc) was used as the standard antioxidant and 1.0 mmol/L for sodium arsenite solution (As) is the yeast stress concentration. The experiment was divided into control group, 1.5 g/L RE group, 0.1 g/L Vc group, 1.0 mmol/L As group, 1.0 mmol/L As+1.5 g/L RE group and 1.0 mmol/L As+0.1 g/L Vc group. We detected the growth, proliferation and apoptosis of yeast cells by MTT assay, plate method, FDA/PI staining, DAPI staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis flow cytometry after yeast cells were cultured for 24 h. The experimental results showed that rose extract effectively relieved the damage of arsenic to yeast cells, and significantly improved the growth rate and survival rate of yeast cells (P<0.01), significantly inhibited the apoptosis of yeast cells (P<0.01). The results confirmed that rose extract had a significant inhibitory effect on the apoptosis of arsenic stressed yeast cells. At 50% DPPH clearance rate, the inhibitory effect of rose extract on the apoptosis of yeast cells under arsenic stress was significantly higher than that of Vc (P<0.05). Therefore, RE as a natural plant extract, due to its green and non-toxic mechanism of action, will have a broader application prospect in combating heavy metal pollution, improving the body’s antioxidant capacity and alleviating oxidative damage.