It has been believed that antioxidant enzymes such as CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase protect the tissue from damage resulting from the oxygen derived free radicals($O_2;^-$, $H_2O_2$ and OH ). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between activity of antioxidant enzymes including CuZn- and Mn- superoxide dismutase and catalase and inflammatory periodontal disease and periodontal parameters. For this study, the patients were classified into normal, gingivitis, adult periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis, and then their papillary bleeding index(PBI) and probing depth were checked. Gingival tissues were surgically obtained from the patients during periodontal surgery, extraction, and clinical crown lengthening procedure. The activity of CuZn- and Mn- superoxide dismutase and catalase in the gingival tissues was measured by using UV-spectrophotometer by the same methods as Crapo et al. And Aebi did, respectively. The results were as follows : 1. CuZn- and Mn- and total-superoxide dismutase activity were significantly low in rapidly progressive periodontitis group in comparison to normal group (P<0.05). 2. In comparison of the antioxidant enzyme activity according to papillary bleeding index group(PBI), Mn-superoxide dismutase activity only was significantly lower in PBI 2, 3, and 4 groups than PBI 0 group(P<0.05). 3. Superoxide dismutase activity failed to show any significant difference according to probing depth. But significant]y high catalase activity was shown in deep pocket group (${ge}7mm$)(P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that the activity of Mn-superoxide dismutase among the antioxidant enzymes may reflect the inflammatory status of gingival tissue and that the decreased activity of superoxide dismutase may be one of responsibe factors for progression of rapidly progressive periodontitis.