Additionally, the study aims to investigate the potential antitumor activity of arctiin against HCC in rats by investigating its effects on the expression of β-catenin, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4), and protein kinase C (PKC). The gene discussed is SMAD4; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.