• Extract inhibited growth of HepA xenograft in mice• Treatment with extract for 10 d led to a significant and dose-dependent decrease in size and weight of tumour (8.2% and 58.6% decrease at doses 3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively)• Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was markedly reduced in tumour cells• Expression levels of BAX and cleaved caspase-3 pro-apoptotic proteins were increased and levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and p-AKT proteins were decreased, indicating apoptotic cell death. The gene discussed is PCNA; the disease is neoplasm.