Objective To investigate the anti-HSV-1 activity of the extracellular polysaccharides from Paecilomyces lilacinus isolated from Mangrove , so as to provide research basis for the development of new antiviral drugs. Methods The maxmium safe concentration of the extract to Vero cells was assessed by cytopathic effect (CPE) and MTT assay. The polysaccharides in different concentrations were applied to various phases of HSV-1 replication cycles respectively. The virus infectivity (TCID50) was examined by CPE, and the direct inactivation effect of the extract was observed by MTT assay, the inhibition effect of the extract on HSV-1 absorption and biosynthesis was examined by MTT assay too. Results The extracellular polysaccharides had little cytotoxic effect on Vero cells (CC50 = 1724.2 μg/ml). They could inhibit HSV-1 absorption on Vero cells at the dose of 25-1000 μg/ml to some extent in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 650.7 μg/ml). The biosynthesis of HSV-1 could be significantly inhibited by the extract at the dose of 25-1000 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner (IC50= 547.7 μg/ml), but the extract couldn’t inactivate HSV-1 directly. Conclusions The extracellular polysaccharides are little harmful to Vero cells. They have conspicuous anti-HSV-1 activity, probably acting at the stage of HSV-1 binding to Vero cells and the virus biosynthesis stage in a dose-effect relationship.