OBJECTIVE: To study in vitro bacteriostatic activity of the extracts from Miao medicine Polygonum runcinatum. METHODS: Using chloramphenicol and fluconazole as positive control, the inhibitory effects of water extract, 95% ethanol extract and its ethyl acetate and n-butanol fraction on 9 kinds of strains were determined by cup plate method, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, type B Hemolytic streptococcus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The parts with bacteriostatic activity and trial strains sensitive to drug were screened. Micro-broth dilution method and agar culture medium plate method were used to determine MIC and MBC of 95% ethanol extract and its fractions of P. runcinatum to sensitive strains. RESULTS: The water extract of P. runcinatum almost had no inhibitory effect. 95% ethanol extract showed different degrees of bacteriostatic activity to strains; bacteriostatic effects of it to 6 kinds of bacteria as S. typhi was better than that of type B H. streptococcus and 2 kinds of fungus. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fraction of 95% ethanol extracts showed good bacteriostatic effect and the ethyl acetate fraction had stronger effect, while all the fractions of 95% ethanol extracts showed no inhibitory effect on fungus. MIC and MBC of 95% ethanol extract to above 6 kinds of bacteria were 6.25-12.5 and 12.5-25 mg/mL, respectively; MIC and MBC of ethyl acetate fraction were 3.13-6.25, 6.25-12.5 mg/mL; MIC and MBC of n-butanol fraction were 6.25-12.5, 12.5-25 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: 95% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Miao medicine P. runcinatum have obvious in vitro bacteriostatic activity to 6 common bacterias as S. typhi.