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A peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻)-generating system induced by 3-morpholinosydnonimine, was used to evaluate the ONOO⁻ scavenging properties of plants that have been widely used as traditional medicine in Korea for the treatment of several diseases. The most effective medicinal plants were <i>Paeonia suffruticosa</i> Andrew, followed in order by <i>Lonicera japonica</i> Thunb., <i>Curcuma zedoaria</i> (Christm.) Roscoe, and <i>Pueraria thunbergiana</i> Benth. In addition, root bark of <i>P. suffruticosa</i> was partitioned with organic solvents of different polarities, and the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed the strongest ONOO⁻ scavenging activity. Methyl gallate, a plant-derived phenolic compound identified from the EtOAc fraction, exerted strong ONOO⁻ scavenging activity. The in vivo therapeutic potential of methyl gallate was investigated using lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. Oral administration of methyl gallate protected against acute renal injury and exhibited potential anti-inflammatory properties through an increase in antioxidant activity and decrease in nuclear factor-kappa B activity.