This study investigated the antioxidant properties of the Radix isatidis extract and the effect of substituting it with sodium nitrite (SN) in a pork patty. The antioxidant activity of the Radix isatidis water extract (RIWE) was compared to those of the methanol and chloroform extracts (RIME and RICE, respectively). Patties were prepared with five different treatments: (1) a control with no RIWE and SN, (2) T1 with 150 ppm SN, (3) T2 with 100 ppm SN + 0.1% RIWE, (4) T3 with 50 ppm SN + 0.3% RIWE, and (5) T4 with 0.5% RIWE. They were used to compare the oxidation stability for 12 days at 4℃. The extraction yield of RIWE was 3.2 and 18.7 times higher (p<0.05) than those of RIME and RICE, respectively, but RIWE had the lowest (p<0.05) 1,1`-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase-like activity, and total reducing ability. Patties with RIWE and SN exhibited lower (p<0.05) pH values after 12 days, compared to the control. After 4 days, the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content was lower (p<0.05) in T1, T2, T3, and T4 than in the control. The oxidation-reduction potential value was the lowest (p<0.05) in T3 and T4 after 4 days (p<0.05). T1, T2, T3, and T4 had a lower (p<0.05) volatile basic nitrogen content after 12 days, compared to the control. These findings suggest that RIWE has an antioxidant effect similar to that of SN, but further research on its antimicrobial effect may be required to determine if it is a good substitute for SN.