Recent studies have revealed that dietary flavonoids are potent radical scavengers, acting in a manner similar to ascorbate and [alpha]-tocopherol. However, it is still not clear whether flavonoids have a similar antioxidative function in plants. We examined the possibility that flavonoids could function as stress protectants in plant cells by scavenging H2O2. Two major flavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, were isolated from leaves of the tropical tree Schefflera arboricola Hayata. Both glycosides and aglycones of isolated flavonols were oxidized by H2O2 in the presence of horse-radish peroxidase and/or in a soluble fraction of S. arboricola leaf extract. The rates of oxidation were in the order quercetin > kaempferol > quercetin glycoside >> kaempferol glycoside. Judging from the effects of inhibitors such as KCN, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole, we conclude that guaiacol peroxidase in the soluble fraction catalyzes H2O2-dependent oxidation of flavonols. In the flavonol-guaiacol peroxidase reaction, ascorbate had the potential to regenerate flavonols by reducing the oxidized product. These results provide further evidence that the flavonoid-peroxidase reaction can function as a mechanism for H2O2 scavenging in plants.