BACKGROUND: Herbal extracts have been screened for their inhibitory effect of seed germination and root development on weeds, but there is a scarcity of reports for crop growth regulation. The objective of this research was to develop a growth inhibitor on Brassica campestris, and its effective extraction method from herbal medicine extract. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty four herbal medicine extracts were tested for their plant growth inhibition activity on B. campestris. The alcohol extracts of Artemisia annua, Cinnamomum cassia, and Mentha arvensis inhibited over 30% of germination and the extract of A. annua, and C. cassia inhibited over 70% of radicle growth at 0.1 % w/w treatment. The partially purified extracts of A. annua, and C. cassia with dichloromethane and hexane showed stronger radicle growth inhibition than the crude extracts on B. campestris. The diethyl ether extract of A. annua showed a similar 50% radicle growth inhibition ($RI_{50}$ = 45 mg/L) to its partially purified extract with dichloromethane or hexane, but the diethyl ether extract of C. cassia showed a worse $RI_{50}$ than the purified extract. CONCLUSION: The alcohol extracts of A. annua, and C. cassia showed potent radicle growth inhibition properties on B. campestris. Diethyl ether proved to be a good solvent for simple extraction from A. annua.