[Objective] To investigate the bacteriostasis and anticancer activity in vitro of Potentilla anserine L. extracts in different solvents. [Method] The four different kinds of solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water) were used to extract P. anserine root tuber in turn, so as to obtain corresponding extracts. Antibacterial activities of the four extracts for the four kinds of bacteria (Escherichia coli., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) were observed by using Oxford cup double-plate method. Besides, the inhibitory effects of the extracts on human hepatoma cell HepG2 were studied in vitro by crystal violet staining. [Result] Among the four extracts, ethanol had the strongest antibacterial activity and the most obvious anti-cancer cell activity; and its IC50 was 375 μg/ml. [Conclusion] There were antibacterial and anti-cancer compounds in P. anserine. The inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts was the most remarkable among the four different solvents. [Objective] To investigate the bacteriostasis and anticancer activity in vitro of Potentilla anserine L. extracts in different solvents. [Method] The four different kinds of solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water) were used to extract P. anserine root Tuber in turn, so as to obtain corresponding extracts. Antibacterial activities of the four extracts for the four kinds of bacteria (Escherichia coli., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) were observed by using Oxford cup double-plate method. Besides, the inhibitory effects of the extracts on human hepatoma cell HepG2 were studied in vitro by crystal violet staining. [Result] Among the four extracts, ethanol had the strongest antibacterial activity and the most obvious anti-cancer cell activity; and its IC50 was 375 μg / ml. Conclusion There were antibacterial and anti-cancer compounds in P. anserine. The inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts was the most remarkable among the four differencies t solvents.