The phytochemical and in vitro cytotoxic activity of various extracts of the leaves of Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.Moore ssp. laurina (Symplocaceae) were studied in the present investigation. The leaves were extracted successively with various solvents viz., n-Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol in a soxhlet extractor. The phytochemical tests, thin layer chromatographic studies and high performance thin layer chromatographic study were also carried out for all the extracts. All the extracts were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity by MTT assay method using human cancer cell lines, Human breast cancer- MDA-MB-231, Colon cancer-SW 620, Liver cancer - Hep G 2. Methanol extract showed significant cytotoxic activity than all the other extracts against the above mentioned cancer cell lines.
