Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function significantly in cell signal transduction and homeostasis. High ROS concentration can cause oxidative damage to cells and lead to various diseases consequently. Significantly, antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart diseases and cancer. In the present study, a review was carried out concerning current methods for evaluating antioxidant activity, focusing on cellular determining antioxidant activity, in combination with the investigation of evaluation models of antioxidant activity established by different cell lines, which may provide a reference for further evaluation of antioxidant activity by establishing cell models.