The extract and fractions of Rumex acetosa (Polygonaceae), a Korean medicinal plant, were examined for their cytotoxicities against five cultured human tumor cell lines, i.e. A549 (non-small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCY15 (colon), using the SRB (sulforhodamine-B) method in vitro and antimutagenic activities by Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 and SOS chromotest with E. coli PQ37. Among the tested samples, the methylene chloride fraction strongly inhibited the proliferation of each examined tumor cell line with $IC_{50}$ values ranged from 13.2 to $18.7;{mu}g/ml$ and showed potent antimutagenic activities with 96.1% and 96.7% at the concentration of 1 mg/plate against the mutagens, NPD and sodium azide, respectively. Its antigenotoxic activity was also very effective at the final concentration of $10;{mu}g/reaction$ tube against the mutagens, MNNG and NQO by SOS chromotest.