The aim of present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant potential of kaempferol in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats and to study oxidative stress and antioxidant status. Diabetes was induced into adult male albino Wistar strain, weighing 180–200 g by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg of body weight (BW)). The diabetic rats exhibited increased plasma glucose and decreased insulin levels. Oral administration of kaempferol resulted in a significant reduction in plasma glucose, and an increase in serum insulin levels in comparison with diabetic control group. A significant increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and conjugated dienes (CD) were observed in diabetic rat while treated with kaempferol the above lipid peroxidative markers were reverted to near normalcy. The level of non-enzymic antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH) were significantly decreased in diabetic rats. Oral administration of kaempferol to diabetic rats shows that the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants back towards the normal levels when compared to diabetic control rats. The activity of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly decreased in diabetic rats and treatment with kaempferol the above enzymatic antioxidants activity were significantly increased. Kaempferol is having a good antioxidant property, as evidenced by increased antioxidant status and decreased lipid peroxidation, which protects the risk of diabetic complications.