Paeoninol and paeonin C, oligostilbene and monoterpene galactoside, have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Paeonia emodi. Their structures have been assigned on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. In addition, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid 3, gallic acid 4 and methyl gallate 5 have also been reported for the first time from this species. Compounds I and 2 have displayed potent inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase in a concentration-dependent fashion with the IC50 values 0.77 and 99.5 muM, along with ABTS(+) radical quenching activity with IC50 values of 147.5 and 498.2 muM, respectively. 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.