141 methanol extracts from 125 plant species which populate in Korea were screened for antimicrobial activity against various food-borne pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms. Those plants were selected from 3 different plant groups: traditional herbs, edible plants and flowers. The methanol extracts were tested by using the disk diffusion assay against five bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli. From the evaluation of the inhibition zone diameter of microbial growth, the most significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus auresus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli was observed from the extract of Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Rheum officinale Baill., Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Koelreuteria paniculata Lax and Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, respectively. The extract from many plants - Koelreuteria paniculata Lax, Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne, Scutellaria bacicalensis Georgi, Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc., Rosa centifolia L., Allium fistulosum L. var. giganteum Makino, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Lonicera japonica - showed antimicrobial activity all four tested bacteria.