STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: These findings that L.obtusiloba extract decreased the basal phosphorylation of Akt, Stat3 and Erk in Hep3B cells as well as in poorly differentiated SK-Hep1 cells as a result of reduced stimulatory effects of IGF-1 on its receptor explains the inhibition of growth and motility and the induction of apoptosis in HCC cells.