The isolation and identification of an antibacterial component, from Polygoni Radix against a cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176, were carried out for development of anticariogenic agents. The bioactive component was identified to be emodin. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of emodin was $100;{mu}g/ml$ against S. mutans OMZ 176. The bioactive component emodin weakly inhibited ${eta}-lactamase$ activity with the inhibition ratio of 1.7, 4.3 and 7.6% at the concentration of 50, 100, and 200 uM, respectively. Emodin exhibited slight phototoxicity when analysed by the photohemolysis method.