As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, antimicrobial activity of rutin isolated from Sophora japonica was tested in vitro against four kinds of gram positive bacteria and four kinds of gram negative bacteria by serial broth dilution method. Among eight kinds of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of rutin was the most potent against Mycobacterium smegmatis showing MIC of $375;{mu}g/ml$. The acute toxicity of rutin was examined in mice and rats. and $LD_{50}$ value administered intraperitoneally in mice was 650 mg/kg(Confidence limit: 894-1,473 mg/kg). There were no significant changes in serum biochemical values and histopathological changes as compared with those of control after intraperitoneal administration with rutin in rats.