AIM: To investigate the antitumor and immunological activities of the polysaccharides obtained from rabdosia rubescens (RRP). METHODS: In vitro and in vivo tumor inhibitory experiments as well as MTT method were used. RESULTS: With increasing concentration, the RRP exerted direct cytotoxicity effect in vitro on the cell growth of EAC mice,and its inhibitory rate in vivo against sarcoma 180 reached 35% ( P