4'-Hydroxywogonin Attenuates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Suppressing Gas6/Axl-PI3K/AKT Signaling

4'-Hydroxywogonin, a bioactive flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, has reported anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities; however, its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. This study investigated the anti-tumor effects of 4'-hydroxywogonin and its regulatory role in Gas6/Axl-associated signaling. Human HCC cells were used to evaluate proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, senescence, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Whole-transcriptome sequencing, western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, molecular docking, and thermal shift analysis were performed to explore the underlying mechanism, and antitumor efficacy and safety were further examined in a mouse xenograft model. 4'-Hydroxywogonin significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing G1-phase arrest, apoptosis, and senescence. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses identified Axl as a key affected target. 4'-Hydroxywogonin reduced Gas6 and Axl expression, suppressed PI3K/AKT activation, and downregulated cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. Molecular docking predicted a potential interaction between 4'-hydroxywogonin and Axl, which was supported by thermal shift analysis. Axl overexpression partially rescued the inhibitory effects of 4'-hydroxywogonin, suggesting involvement of Axl-dependent and additional pathways. In vivo, 4'-hydroxywogonin markedly reduced tumor growth with efficacy comparable to sorafenib and without evident hepatotoxicity. These findings indicate that 4'-hydroxywogonin suppresses HCC progression, at least in part, through inhibition of the Gas6/Axl-PI3K/AKT signaling axis, supporting its further development as a natural therapeutic candidate.