Hamcho (Salicornia herbacea) extracts were evaluated for total polyphenol content, antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities. The total polyphenol content was 1.81 g and 0.72 g per 100 g of dried sample in water and ethanol extracts respectively. Both water and ethanol extracts of Hamcho significantly exhibited antioxidant activity. The scavenging activity of hydroxyl radical was 13.8~26.2% and 14.2~16.0% in water and ethanol extracts respectively. The inhibitory effect of conjugated diene formation was 24.6~39.1% and 28.4~39.6% in water and ethanol extracts respectively. However, pro-oxidative effect was also observed in the Hamcho extracts. The Hamcho water extract showed the pro-oxidant effect by enhancing the formation of hydroxyl radical and conjugated diene. The ethanol extract of Hamcho induced conjugated diene formation at 0.5 mg/mL but not at 1 mg/mL. The hydroxyl radical formation was not induced by the Hamcho ethanol extract. Taken together, these results show that Hamcho extracts can act as pro-oxidants by generating hydroxyl radical or conjugated diene in addition to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study suggests that the physiological properties of Hamcho and its use as food materials should be considered with caution because antioxidant dietary plants such as Hamcho possess possible adverse effects induced by pro-oxidant activity.