Objective To explore the optimum extraction conditions and anti-tumor activity of total saponins from albizia cortex.Methods Albizia cortex were used as raw material.Ethanol reflux technology was used to extract the total saponins of albizia cortex.Single-factor experiment was use to study the effect of ethanol concentration,extraction time,extraction temperature and solvent-to-solid ratio on the extraction efficiency.Based on this foundation,the orthogonal experiment of four factors and three levels was used to optimize the optimum extraction conditions.Furthermore,MTT assays was used to assess the antineoplastic activity of the total saponins from albiziae cortex in vitro.Results The optimum extraction conditions of total saponins from albizia cortex were obtained,ethanol concentration 70%,the extraction time 1.5 h,the extraction temperature 70℃,solvent-to-solid ratio 1:20(g/mL).Under these conditions,the extraction rate of total saponins from albiziae cortex was 31.20%.The IC50(μM)value of total saponins from albizia cortex against MDA-MB-231 was 9.92±0.83 μM.Conclusion The results demonstrated that total saponins from albiziae cortex exhibited certain bioinhibitory activity against MDA-MB-231 cell lines.