Abstract: The antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging of Potentilla freyniana and Potentilla fulgens were evaluated based on total antioxidant ability, yolk lipoprotein, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities, and scavenging DPPH radical.The various antioxidant activities were compared with synthetic antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (V C) and propyl gallate (PG) .The results revealed that within certain range of concentration, four kinds of potentilla flavone compounds in the first four aspects had a fixed order:P.freyniana (Fujian) >P.freyniana (Hebei) >P.fulgens (Hebei) >P.fulgens (Fujian) , but in the DPPH free radical scavenging a slightly different:the order was P.fulgens (Fujian) >P.freyniana (Hebei) >P.fulgens (Hebei) >P.freyniana (Fujian) , compared with synthetic antioxidants such as VC and PG, this activity performances was similar.