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Abstract Context Gnetum montanum Markgr. (Gnetaceae) is used to treat rheumatic arthralgia and bruises in the clinic. Objective To exam the activity and mechanism of G. montanum extract (GME) against colon cancer cells SW480. Materials and methods The anti-proliferative activity of GME (0–120 μg/mL) on SW480 cells was determined using MTS assay at 24, 48, and 72 h. The in vitro activity of GME (0–120 μg/mL) on SW480 cells was investigated using flow cytometry and western blotting analysis. The in vivo activity of GME was evaluated using xenograft tumour model of zebrafish and nude mice. The chemical composition of GME was detected by using HPLC–MS/MS. Results The IC50 value SW480 cells viability by GME were 126.50, 78.25, and 50.77 μg/mL, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 h. The experiments showed that apoptotic cells and G2/M phase cells increased from 20.81 to 61.53% (p < 0.01) and 25.76 to 34.93% with 120 μg/mL GME, respectively. GME also down-regulated the protein expression of P-AKT, P-GSK-3β, P-PDK1, P-c-Raf, caspase-3, and Bcl-2, and up-regulated the expression cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and Bax. In vivo study found that GME can significantly inhibit the growth and migration of SW480 cells in xenograft zebrafish. GME reduced the nude mice tumour weight to approximately 32.19% at 28 mg/kg/day and to 53.17% (p < 0.01) at 56 mg/kg/day. Forty-two compounds were identified from the GME. Discussion and conclusions GME has a significant antitumor effect on colon cancer cells SW480, and it has the potential to be developed as an anticancer agent.