Hemionitis arifolia (Burm. f.) T. Moore, a folklore anti-diabetes fern, was evaluated for its anti-diabetic properties using rats. Glucose lowering effect and anti-diabetes activity were studied in normal rats and streptozotocin (60mg/kg) induced diabetic rats, respectively. 48 hours after STZ induction, diabetic rats received ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Hemionitis arifolia (Burm. f.) T. Moore orally at 250 mg/kg and 500mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg p. o) was used as reference drug. Blood glucose levels were measured on 0th, 2nd, 5th, 10th and 15th days of the study. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts were found to be to lower the levels of blood glucose in glucose fed rats. All the extracts were evaluated for preliminary phytochemical screening. When the ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and sterols were the major phyto constituents present in the above fractions. This fraction containing flavonoids are believed to showed the anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats as judged from blood glucose levels, body weight, biochemical parameters and histopathological studies. © 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.