The biofilm formation is an important cause of bacterial antibiotic resistance and persistence infection,which brings great harm to the medical and food safety.At present,the use of Chinese herbal medicine has played an positive role in prevention and treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections.In this study,16 of herbs,including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,at al. were selected,and the bacteriostatic effects of ethanol and water extracts on Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325 were analyzed by 96-well bacterial culture method.The crystal violet assay was used to determine the biofilm formation of S. aureus NCTC 8325 under sub-inhibitory concentration of extracts.The results showed that,with the exception of Caulis Alsophilae having no inhibitory effects on the S. aureus NCTC 8325,15 extracts had antibacterial activity.Moreover,it was observed that the extracts of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix,Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix,Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,Prunellae Spica,Senecionis Scandentis Hebra,Magnoliae Flos,Coptidis Rhizoma,Amomi Fructus,Caulis Alsophilae,Artemisiae Scopariae Herba and Menthae Haplocalycis Herba could significantly inhibit the biofilm formation of S. aureus NCTC 8325.The ethanol extracts of Siegesbeckiae Herba,Pteridis Multifidae Herba,Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma,Schizonepetae Herba had inhibitory effects on the biofilm formation of S. aureus NCTC 8325,but the water extracts of Siegesbeckiae Herba,Pteridis Multifidae Herba,Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma,Schizonepetae Herba enhanced the biofilm formation.These results indicate that the bioactive compounds in the two extracts may differ due to the use of different extraction solvents.Thus,our findings indicate that some Traditional Chinese medicine can be potential adjunctive agents for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infection.