Aldose reductase (AR), the principal enzyme of the polyol pathway, has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. Evaluating natural sources for ARI potential may lead to the development of safer and more effective agents against diabetic complications. Sixty four Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, thirteen herbal medicines, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. (whole plant), Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand. Mazz. (whole plant), Lonicera hypoglauca Miq. (leaf, stem), Scutellaria orthocalyx Hang. Mazz. (whole plant), Berchemia floribunda Brongn. (leaf, stem), Michelia alba DC. (flower), Oroxylum indicum (seed), Punica granatum L. (peel), Elsholtzia capituligera (whole plant), Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. (whole plant), Elsholtzia strobilifera Benth. (whole plant), Agrimonia pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai (whole plant) and Aster poliothamnus Diels (whole plant) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against AR. Particularly, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. showed seven times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control, 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG).