Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of extracts from Salvia chinensis against H22 tumor in mice

and analyze the mechanism of inhibiting the growth of tumor. Method: H22 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into five groups

they were control group

high

middle and low dosages of extracts from S. chinensis

and positive-control group. All the treatment lasted 10 days. We investigated the inhibition rate

spleen index

thymus index

content of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF) in serum at the 11th day. Result: In contrast to model group

the inhibition rate of the high

middle

and low dosages of S. chinensis extracts were 23.83%

48.93%(P<0.01) and 27.48(P<0.05)

respectively. The spleen index and thymus index of middle and low dosages of S. chinensis extracts rose

but there was not statistical significance. The content of TNF-α and VEGF in serum of administered group were decreased

and the middle dosage of S. chinensis was remarkable(P<0.05). Conclusion: S. chinensis benth extracts could obviously inhibit tumor growth of H22 in tumor-bearing mice

and maybe it involved the down regulation of VEGF.