Petroleum ether extract (1) and ethanolic extract (2) of garlic vine leaves [Mansoa hymenaea (DC.) A. Gentry] were investigated for biological activities using the following tests : brine shrimp toxicity test, pediculicidal activity (in vitro) test, cytotoxicity test against COR L-23 (large cell lung carcinoma) using the SRB assay, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp and headlice as well as the EC50 of antioxidant activity of 1 were higher than those of 2. However cytotoxicity of 1 against lung cancer cell line was less than that of 2 (IC50 = 35.39 and 6.44 µg/ml, respectively). Antifungal activities against three fungi (Tricophyton rubrum, T. mentographytes, Microsporum gypseum) of 1 were higher than those of 2 but 2 possesed higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus spp than 1.
