In this study, we isolated porphyran was isolated from the red seaweed Porphyra yezoensis and assessed in terms of in vitro anti-proliferative activity. Sequential anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography led to purification of 3 porphyrans of different molecular masses, which contained <$50;{mu}g/mL$ protein and >$10;{mu}g/mL$ porphyran. Crude porphyran inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner (0-5 mg/mL). When HT-29 colon cancer cells and AGS gastric cancer cells were cultured with various concentrations of the purified porphyran, cancer cell growth was inhibited by 50% at a low concentration (5 or $10;{mu}g/mL$). Furthermore, the polysaccharide portion of the porphyran preparation, rather than the protein portion, is the most effective at inhibiting cancer cell proliferation via apoptosis, as indicated by increased caspase-3 activity. Our results indicate that purified porphyran has significant in vitro anti-proliferative activity (p<0.05).