Murraya　exotica　is　a　traditional　Chinese　medicine　(TCM)　widely　grown　in　southeast　China.　We　herein　proposed　a　fast　strategy　for　separation　and　identification　of　active　components　of　cancer　metastatic　chemopreventives　from　the　root,　leaf,　twig　and　stem　bark　extracts　that　were　obtained　by　reflux　in　80%　acidic　ethanol　and　then　liquid-liquid　extraction.　High　performance　liquid　chromatography　(HPLC)　analysis　showed　that　the　extract　mixtures　from　leaf,　bark　and　twig　were　similar,　while　the　root　extract　contained　a　characteristic　component　(CM1).　Bioactivity　assays　revealed　that　the　root　extract　contained　some　active　components　that　significantly　inhibited　cancer　cell　viability　and　migration.　Ultra　performance　liquid　chromatography　coupled　with　diode　array　detection　and　electrospray　ionization　mass　spectrometry　(UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS)　analysis　indicated　the　existence　of　coumarins　in　the　root　and　leaf　extracts.　Semi-preparative　chromatographic　separation　and　physicochemical　characterization　indicated　that　CM1　was　a　novel　coumarin　derivative　that　warrants　further　chemopreventive　studies　on　cancer　metastasis.　The　present　phytochemical　and　phytopharmacological　studies　exemplify　a　fast　strategy　for　screening　and　identifying　active　component(s)　from　raw　extracts　of　phytomedicines.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.