Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of the 5,10,15,20‑tetrakis (1‑meth‑ ylpyridinium‑4‑yl) porphyrin (TMPyP4) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms by which TMPyP4 exerted its actions. Results After human cervical cancer cells were treated with different doses of TMPyP4, cell viability was determined by 3‑(4,5‑dimethyl‑2‑thiazolyl)‑2,5‑diphenyl‑2‑H‑tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, the apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphated p38 MAPK (p‑p38 MAPK), capase‑3, MAPKAPK2 (MK‑2) and poly ADP‑ribose polymerase (PARP) was measured by Western blot analysis. The analysis revealed that TMPyP4 potently suppressed cell viability and induced the apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells in a dose‑dependent manner. In addition, the up‑regulation of p‑p38 MAPK expression levels was detected in TMPyP4‑treated human cervical cancer cells. However, followed by the block of p38 MAPK signaling pathway using the inhibitor SB203580, the effects of TMPyP4 on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells were significantly changed. Conclusions It was indicated that TMPyP4‑inhibited proliferation and ‑induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells was accompanied by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Taken together, our study demonstrates that TMPyP4 may represent a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.