RESUMEN
AIM: To find the optimal polarity zone by comparing the antitumor effects of various polarity solvent extracts. METHODS: The various polarity solvent was used to separate the plant dry powder (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate,acetone,and ethanol). The antitumor activities of the different extracts on human cancer cell lines in vitro were analyzed using MTT assay. RESULTS : The petroleum ether extract and the ethyl acetate extract strongly inhibited the proliferation of leukemia K562 cells, oesophagus cancer Eca-109 cells and hepato- carcinoma HepG_2 cells, and showed significant dose-dependent response while the acetone extract and the ethanol extract exhibited low antitumor activities in vitro. The petroleum ether extract was the most active part. CONCLUSION: The petroleum ether extract is the principal antitumor extract from Stellera chanraejasmel L.