P. oleracea and its constituent such genestein reduce cell viability, cell proliferation, Bcl‐2 level and MMP‐2 expression but increase apoptotic, cytotoxicity, Bax expression, miR‐128 activation and p21 protein level, inhibit NSCLC cells ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation, regulate Cas‐3/9 activity, miRNA27a activity and the expression of the MET protein enhancing p62, activating Cas‐3 and Cas‐8 and increasing TRAIL‐induced tumour cell death by activated autophagy. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.