Objective: To investigate the effect of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on adhesion, invasion and migration abilities of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the possible mechanisms. Methods: HCC MHCC97L cells were exposed to different concentrations of DHM, and then, the adhesion, invasion and migration abilities of the cells were examined, and the protein expressions of E-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF were also determined. Results: In MHCC97L cells treated with DHM compared with blank control cells, the abilities of adhesion, invasion and migration were all significantly deceased (all P<0.05), the E-cadherin expression was upregulated, and the MMP-9 and VEGF expressions were downregulated significantly, but the MMP-2 expression showed no significant change (P>0.05). Conclusion: DHM can inhibit the adhesion, invasion and migration of HCC cells by regulation of E-cadherin, MMP-9 and VEGF expressions.