The present invention relates to anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma of an extract and fraction isolated from flowers of Butea monosperma. Particularly, this invention relates to anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma of a composition containing markered flavonoid glycosides such as butrin and isobutrin in the range of 2 to 9% by weight, isolated from the flowers of Butea monosperma by extracting the flowers with polar solvent like ethanol, methanol, aqueous ethanol or water, removing fatty non-polar constituents by triturating the extract with solvents such as ethylene chloride, methylene chloride, chloroform or ethyl acetate, suspending the residue in water, extracting with n-butanol and freeze drying the aqueous part.