Cell-scattering is a phenotypic change easily observed in most epithelial cells treated with Hepatocyte Growth Factor /scatter Factor (HGF/SF) or phorbol esters (PKC-activators). Recent studies have shown the possibilities to use as therapeutic materials of HGF/SF or non tumor promoting phorbol esters for liver disease, cancer and AIDS. In this study, we tested a cell-scattering activity of 534 methanol extracts from plants inhabiting in Korean peninsula using the phenotype-based assay system. Nine Active extracts were detected : Daphne genkwa, Daphne kiusiana, and Aleurites fordii showed high activity (+++), Euphorbia sieboldiana and Rhodotypos scandens showed medium activity (++), Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula, Catalpa bignonioides, Sambucus sieboldiana and Lycoris squamigera showed low activity (+). Furthermore, the effects of these active materials in the culture cells were investigated with biochemical studies.