One hundred and seventeen crude drugs were screened for DNA-binding activity in vitro. The DNA-methyl green assay is a useful biochemical screen for the detection or development of biologically active compounds which bind to DNA. This assay is based upon the fact that free methyl green undergoes rapid spontaneous molecular rearrangement to its colorless carbinol base so that the liberation of the dye from DNA by displacement can be followed spectrophotometrically as a decrease in absorbance at 65Onm. Seven methanolic extracts of crude drugs including Cinnamomi Cortex spissus, Coicis Semen, Coptidis Rhizoma, Perillae Semen, Plantaginis Semen, Polygalae Radix and Zanthoxyli Fructus showed less than 2,000${mu}$g/ml as their $IC_{50}$ values. The active principles of Plantaginis Semen and Zanthoxyli Fructus were transferred into organic solvents, which showed the $IC_{50}$ values with 588 and 574${mu}$g/ml, respectively. These fractions have been selected for isolation of biologically active constituents.