Quercetin which isolated form the roots of Houttuynia cordata. was determined on the basis of IR, ID and 2D NMR specta by direct comparison with authentic compounds. Protein tyrosine phophatase 1B (PTP1B) is thought to be a negative regulator in insulin signal-transduction pathway. Insulin-resistance by the activation of PTP1B is a hallmark of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, the compound inhibiting PTP1B can improve insulin resistance and can be effective in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Quercetin which measured the inhibitory activity against PTP1B was 92.1% inhibition in the 30 ${mu}g$/mL, 83.4% inhibition in the 6 ${mu}g$/mL and 76.5% inhibition in the 3 ${mu}g$/mL. These results suggest that quercetin retains a potential PTP1B activity.