['To investigate the effects of 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin on the chondrogenic differentiation of rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs).', 'ADMSCs were cultured using a micromass suspension method and incubated with different concentrations of 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 for 3 weeks: group A (negative control, no drug treatment); group B (positive control, 10 ng/ml TGF-β1); groups C, D and E (incubated with 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin, respectively); groups F, G and H (incubated with 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin, respectively, plus 10 ng/ml TGF-β1). Markers of chondrogenic differentiation were measured using histology, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.', 'When used alone, 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin only weakly induced the chondrogenic differentiation of ADMSCs. 7,8-Dihydroxy coumarin used in combination with TGF-β1 strongly induced chondrogenic differentiation of ADMSCs. For some of the markers of chondrogenic differentiation, the extent of the induction was 7,8-dihydroxy coumarin dose-dependent.'] Does 7,8-Dihydroxy coumarin promote chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells?