Anew polysaccharide was extracted from Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and further successive purification through DEAF-cellulose 52 and Sephadex G-200 columns. The results showed a single and symmetrical sharp peak, which suggested that purified polysaccharide was homogeneous. The molecular weight was calculated to be 3.28 x 10(5) Da. Monosaccharide analysis revealed that the polysaccharide was composed of rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and D-galactose in the molar ratio of 1.42%, 13.12%, 22.68%, 1.57%, 9.39%, 21.58%, 30.24%, respectively. There was a dose-dependent relationship with measures of antioxidant activities, viz. capabilities to scavenge free radical superoxide anion free radical, hydrogen peroxides and reducibility. The antitumor activity of the polysaccharide was tested in a cell culture model. The polysaccharide caused a significant dose dependent inhibition on the multiplication of cancer cells.