Hydroxy saffron yellow A (HSYA), an active ingredient of the herb Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower), significantly reduced the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in tumour tissues of mice transplanted with H22 and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38MAPK in a concentration-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis in HCC [135]. Here, MMP9 is linked to neoplasm.