Isoferulic acid (3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid, IFA), the isomer of ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid), is a rare phenolic acid occurring in Rhizoma Cimicifugae. Unlike ferulic acid, which has been well investigated, the antioxidant activity of IFA has not been measured. In this study, IFA was systematically evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant activity for the first time. IC50 values were calculated of 7.30 +/- 0.57, 4.58 +/- 0.17, 1.08 +/- 0.01, 8.84 +/- 0.43, 7.69 +/- 0.39, 1.57 +/- 0.2, 13.33 +/- 0.49 microg/mL, respectively, for lipid peroxidation, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) and ABTS (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt) radical scavenging, reducing power on Fe3+ and CU2+ ions, and hydroxyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging. Comparison with the IC50 values with those of the positive controls, Trolox and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), it can be concluded that isoferulic acid is an effective natural antioxidant in both lipid and aqueous media.