The different parts of 8 edible and medicinal ferns were extracted with 80% ethanol and the bioactive substances and antioxidant activities were investigated. Total polyphenol content was highest in Cyrtomium fortunei rhizome ($57.32mg{cdot}g^{-1}$) and followed by C. fortunei root, Pyrrosia lingua aerial part and Onoclea sensibilis var. interrupta aerial part. Total flavonoid contents ranged from 1.95 (Onoclea sensibilis var. interrupta rhizome) to $27.51mg{cdot}g^{-1}$ (O. sensibilis var. interrupta aerial part). Among the samples tested, C. fortunei root and rhizome were found to be most effective in both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay. Except in Selaginella tamariscina underground part and Osmunda japonica aerial part, most of the tested samples showed strong potential (above 87%) in inhibition rate on linoleic acid oxidation.