Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of Boschniakia rossica boschnaloside (BRBN) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and migration of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells. Methods Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) was used to induce EMT model of SMMC-7721 cells. The cells were divided into the control group, model group and BRBN group. The cell migration was detected with wound healing test, the cell invasion was observed by transwell chamber assay, and the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, Slug, Twist1, ZEB1 and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) were determined with the western blot method. Results TGFβ1 resulted in the spindle-shaped changes in SMMC-7721 cells, down-regulated the expression of E-cadherin, and up-regulated the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, suggesting that SMMC-7721 cells have obtained the mesenchymal phenotype. Compared with the model group, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased, expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin were reduced, expressions of Slug, Twist1, ZEB1 as well as STAT3 phosphorylation were also down-regulated in SMMC-7721 cells of BRBN group. Conclusions BRBN could inhibit the invasion and migration of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells, possibly by reversing EMT through STAT3 pathway.