To evaluate the anti-human hepatocellular carcinoma activity of turmeric oil (TO). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by flow cytometry. The protein abundance of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome C was analyzed by Western blot. The results demonstrated TO-induced apoptosis of Bel-7402 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manners. It was characterized by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m) and enhanced Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The release of cytochrome C from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-9 and -3 indicated that TO might induce apoptosis of Bel-7402 cells via mitochondrial-mediated pathway.