HPLC chromatograms at 254nm and 280nm of flavonoids extract from D. boryanum (Willd.) Ching. Display omitted ► Characterization of flavonoids from Dryoathyrium boryanum. ► Evaluation of bioactivities of flavonoids from D. boryanum. ► Ferns with higher flavonoid content showed more anticancer activity. The profiles and bioactivities of flavonoids extracted from Dryoathyrium boryanum (Willd.) Ching were investigated. The total flavonoids content in extract from D. boryanum is about 145.8mg/g. By means of HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS, the main flavonoids in D. boryanum were tentatively identified as 3-hydroxyphloretin 6′-O-hexoside, quercetin-7-hexoside, apigenin7-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-galactoside, acacetin 7-O-(α-D-apio-furanosyl) (1→6)-β-d-glucoside, 3-hydroxy phloretin 6-O-hexoside, luteolin-6-C-glucoside. 0.21mg/ml flavonoids extract from D. boryanum showed very strong superoxide anion radical scavenging potential, which is higher than that of rutin (0.25mg/ml). The extract (0.21mg/ml of flavonoids) from D. boryanum exhibited similar DPPH scavenging potential with that of rutin (0.25mg/ml). However, rutin (0.25mg/ml) showed a significantly higher reducing power and ABTS scavenging potential than that of 0.21mg/ml flavonoids extract from D. boryanum. It had no effect on acetylcholinesterase. D. boryanum can be considered as a medicinal plant and the flavonoids from D. boryanum are excellent antioxidants.