The inhibitory effects of 207 oriental medicines and 19 oriental prescriptions on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical were examined. The most effective oriental medicines were the fruit of Terminalia chebula, followed in order by the seed of Areca catechu, the heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan, the pericarp of Castanea crenata, the seed of Nelumbo nucifera, Rhus galls, the root of Sanguisorba officinalis, and the bark of Betula platyphylla at the concentration of 10 ${mu}g$／mL. Of the 19 oriental prescriptions, Buyeonsan and Samsinhwan showed the potent scavenging activities of 88% and 71% on DPPH radical at the concentration of 5 ${mu}g$／mL, respectively.