Objective: Novel liposomes composed of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) was prepared to encapsulate total alkaloids from seed of Strychnos nux-vomica L. The antitumor activity of the novel liposomes was compared with corresponding HSPC or SPC liposomes. Method: Liposomes containing the total alkaloids were prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients and stealth liposome technique. The total alkaloids liposomes with different lipid composition were administrated to H22 tumor-bearing mice. The parameters such as inhibition of tumor were calculated and compared. Result: The inhibition rate of tumor was 29.05%

29.29%

45.11%

37.23% for total alkaloids solution

SPC liposomes

HSPC liposomes and novel liposomes

respectively. Results of comparison of mice weight and immune organ index revealed that no toxic effect was found as to liposomes containing total alkaloids. Conclusion: Taken together

improved antitumor activity and the reduced price of phospholipids indicate that the novel liposomes may act as promising carriers for total alkaloids extracted from seed of S.nux-vomica.