The purpose of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial effect of mugwort (Artemisia asiatica Nakai) on the rice cake and bread preservation, and to identify their antimicrobial compounds. The mugwort extracts showed complete inhibition on the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus at 250 $mu extrm{g}$/ml level. Antimicrobial activi쇼 of mugwort extract were stronger than that of commercial antimicrobial agent. Five % of sodium propionate solution showed complete inhibition on the growth of B. subtilis, E. coli and S. aureus, but L. plantarum was inhibited 50.87% at the same concentration. When various amounts of freeze-dried mugwort powder were added in sulgis (steamed rice cake), 3% ssooksulgi (mugwort powder added sulgi) had quite lower level of total bacterial count (5.5$ imes$$10^/5 CFU/g) compared with the control group (1.4$ imes$$10^/7 CFU/g) at ambient temp. (30$pm$1$^{circ}C$) after 72 hr. Three % addition of mugwort showed 2 days extention of shelf-life of rice cake. The sensory qualities of ssooksulgi has no significant difference in moistness, consistency, cohesiveness, afterswallowing and overall quality compared with control group. Ssooksulgi with 3% of mugwort powder had the best overall quality in sensory test. The methanol extract of 500 $mu extrm{g}$/ml of mugwort could lead the successful retardation of the growth of putrefactive microorganism during the incubation of rice cake at 37$^{circ}C$ for 24 hr. On the other hand, coumarin (Sigma) had 54% inhibitory effect at 500 $mu extrm{g}$/ml level, and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal completely inhibited the growth of putrefactive microorganism of whitesulgi at 100 $mu extrm{g}$/ml level during the incubation at 37$^{circ}C$ for 48 hr.48 hr.