The chemical composition of hydro-distilled essential oil from rhizomes of Curcuma amada was analysed. Nineteen compounds representing 77.31% of the total essential oil were identified by GC and GC-MS. Rhizomes were extracted by various solvents with different polarities using various antioxidant assay systems. The petroleum ether extract showed potent DPPH radical scavenging activities (IC 50 = 18.98 ± 0.05) and reducing power (A 700 = 0.861 ± 0.001). Ethyl acetate extract exhibited remarkable nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (IC 50 = 5.97 ± 0.09) higher than that of ascorbic acid (IC 50 = 6.05 ± 0.02). The essential oil showed promising superoxide radical scavenging activities (IC 50 = 15.30 ± 0.03 μg/ml) as compared with ascorbic acid (IC 50 = 15.28 ± 0.01). The results indicate that the oil and organic extracts from rhizomes of C. amada could serve as an important bioresource of antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical industries.