This paper presents antioxidant activity of the stem bark of the plant Bauhinia purpurea L., Fabaceae, an important plant in Indian system of medicine. Among several models available for evaluating anti-oxidant activity, petroleum ether extract of B. purpurea was screened for radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS) assay. In both assays the petroleum ether extract showed half activity than standard drug compound L- ascorbic acid.