The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Saururus chinensis Baill in vitro and in vivo. Methanol extract of S. chinensis Baill inhibited yeast ${alpha}$-glucosidase activity by 49.8%, which was twice as strong as that of acarbose at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL in vitro. The effect of S. chinensis Baill methanol extract on the postprandial increase in blood glucose levels was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using a carbohydrate load test. Oral administration of S. chinensis Baill extract (500 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental blood glucose levels at 60 and 90 min (p<0.05) after oral ingestion of starch (1 g/kg). The area under the glucose response curve of the S. chinensis Baill group was significantly decreased compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). The effect of prolonged feeding of S. chinensis Baill was studied in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. Three-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 0.5% S. chinensis Baill extract for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Plasma glucose, insulin, and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the mice fed S. chinensis Baill extract were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, we conclude that S. chinensis Baill is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus.