Recombinant balsamin (rBalsamin), a type I ribosome inactivating protein classified as RNA N-glycosidase, is known to possess antibacterial and DNase like activity. However, its anticancer properties have not yet been examined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential cytotoxicity of rBalsamin on hepatocellular (HepG2 and H4IIE) and breast (MCF-7 and BT549) carcinoma cells and the related mechanism. rBalsamin arrested cell cycle at G or S phase and increased the level of caspase-3/8. The expression of Bax, Bid, Bad and p53 increased and that of Bc1-2 and BCL-xl decreased in liver and breast cancer cells with rBalsamin treatment. We found that rBalsamin inhibited cell viability of liver and breast cancer cells in a concentration and time dependent manner with IC50 ranging between 18.92 to > 200 mu g/mL. These findings suggest that rBalsamin induced apoptosis in liver and breast cancer cells via death receptor and mitochondrial associated apoptotic pathways, could prove beneficial in the field of cancer therapeutics, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient.