Objective:To study the antioxidant activity of Saururus chinensis in vitro.Method:The antioxidant activities of S.chinensis were evaluated by 1

1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl（DPPH） radical scavenging and [2

2′-azino-bis（3-ethylbenzothiazoline）-6-sulphonic acid] diamonium salt（ABTS） radical scavenging.Result:n-Butanol extract from S.chinensis showed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity（IC50=16.94 mg·L-1） than that of BHT（IC50=18.71 mg·L-1） as positive control

and lower than that of PG and BHA（IC50=0.89

3.2 mg·L-1） as positive control.ABTS radical scavenging activity（IC50=12.90 mg·L-1） showed much lower than that of than PG and BHA（IC50= 0.81

1.95 mg·L-1） as positive controls

and slightly lower than that of BHT（IC50=7.72 mg·L-1）.Petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract showed lower DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity than that of PG

BHT and BHA.Conclusion:n-Butanol extract from S.chinensis had antioxidant activity.