The water fraction exhibiting anticancer activity was prepared from 70% methanol extract of Artemisis argyi by stepwise solvent partioning. This water fraction(5 $mu$g/ml concentration) showed a considerable cytotoxicity against leukemic L1210 cells with a maximal value of 92% for 3 days culture. Contrastingly to such substantial anticancer activities the identical fraction showed far low toxicity against normal lymphocytes than chloroform fraction of Artemisia argyi mitomycine and 5-fluorouracil at every concentration ranging 0.01$mu$g/ml~10.00$mu$g/ml. The cytotoxicity displayed against L1210 cells by the water fraction of Artemisia was found to be proportinal to the decrease of viability of L1210 cells. On the other hand, $O_2$ion generation in L1210 cells appeared to be elevated in accordance to cytotoxicity by the water fraction with concurrent increases of superoxide dismuatse (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) which are responsible for the conversion of $O_2$ ion and $H_2O$$_2$ respectively These findings taken together indicate that the death of L1210 cells by the water fraction of Auemisia atgyi, may be induced at least in part by the detrimental action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including $O_2$- in spite of substantial extorts of SOD and GPx to overcome the attack of ROS.