The water extracts of 83 oriental herbal medicines (Hanbang) which have been clinically used to treat bacterial infections in Korea were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity by the paper disc assay method. Two Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus SG 511, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, and two Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli 055, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027 were used as test organisms. Among the extracts tested, MeOH extract of Baenongtang showed remarkably potent antibacterial activity. Activity-guided chromatographic fractionations of the $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of Baenongtang afforded seven antibacterial compounds.