ObjectiveTo study the effect of Xihuangwan extract on mitochondrial energy metabolism in ovarian cancer SKOV3 and HEY cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. MethodSKOV3 and HEY cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations （0， 5， 10， 15， 20 g·L^-1） of Xihuangwan extract. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） was used to examine the viability of SKOV3 and HEY cells treated with Xihuangwan extract. The adenosine-triphosphate （ATP） levels in SKOV3 and HEY cells were measured by kit. Flow cytometry was employed to measure the content of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in cells. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator 1α （PGC1α）， transcription factor A， mitochondrial （TFAM）， translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， and aplasia Ras homologue member Ⅰ （ARHⅠ） in SKOV3 and HEY cells. Mito-Tracker Green staining was used to observe the morphological changes of mitochondria in SKOV3 and HEY cells. ResultCompared with blank group， Xihuangwan extract treatment for 24， 48 h inhibited the viability of SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with blank group， Xihuangwan extract （10， 15， 20 g·L^-1） groups presented lowered ATP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 20 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract group had lower ATP level than the 10 and 15 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract groups （P<0.05）. Compared with blank group， Xihuangwan extract increased the content of ROS in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 20 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract group had higher ROS content than the 10 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract group （P<0.05）. Compared with blank group， Xihuangwan extract up-regulated the expression level of ARHⅠ protein in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner （P<0.01）， and the expression levels of ARHⅠ protein was higher in the 20 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract group than in the 10 and 15 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract groups （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， Xihuangwan extract down-regulated the protein levels of PGC1α， TFAM， and TOMM20 in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein levels of TFAM and TOMM20 in the HEY cells treated with 20 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract were lower than those in the HEY cells treated with 10， 15 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， 20 g·L^-1 Xihuangwan extract decreased the Mito-Tracker fluorescence intensity of SKOV3 and HEY cells （P<0.05）. ConclusionXihuangwan can compromise the mitochondrial function of ovarian cancer SKOV3 and HEY cells and reduce cell energy metabolism to inhibit the proliferation of SKOV3 and HEY cells by up-regulating ARHⅠ and inhibiting PGC1α/TFAM signaling axis.