<script language="javascript">
function unscapeHTML(str) {
	var div = document.createElement('div');
    div.innerHTML = str.replace(/<\/?[^>]+>/gi, '');
 
	if (div.childNodes[0]) {
		if (div.childNodes.length > 1) {
			var retStr;
 
			for (var i = 0; i < div.childNodes.length; i++) {
				retStr += div.childNodes[i].nodeValue;
			}
 
			return retStr;
		}
		else {
			return div.childNodes[0].nodeValue;
		}
	}
	else {
		return '';
	}
}
</script>

<script language="javascript">
var1 = 'x &gt; 10';
alert(unscapeHTML(var1));
// This will alert 'x > 10' 
 
var2 = '<h1>Pride &amp; Prejudice</h1>';
alert(unscapeHTML(var2));
// This will alert 'Pride & Prejudice'
</script>