Abstract: Objective To evaluate the antioxidative effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) et al.Methods Ninety-five Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided randomly into nine groups as follows: A:normal control, B:solvent control (injected olive oil via the s.c.route and 10% alcohol via the peritoneum, water was administered orally once a day) , C:model control (10% alcohol via the i.p.once a day) , D:VitE group (dissolved in olive oil;10mg/kg, i.p.once a day) and EI:CAPE groups (dissolved in 10% alcohol;3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, via the i.p.;and 12 mg/kg, 24 mg/kg, via the i.g.once a day) .CI: the groups were injected 40% CCl4 via the s.c.routes, fed with high-lipid forage and given 30% alcohol orally, except normal control and solvent control.GSH and MDA levels, CAT and SOD activity of liver homogenate were quantified.Histological examination of the liver tissue sections used hematoxylineosin staining and Van Gieson staining.Results MDA level decreased while GSH levels, CAT and SOD activity increased in the CAPE treated groups, compared with model group (P<0.05) .The improvement of the indexes was better in CAPE (6mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, via i.p.route) groups than that in model group (P<0.05) .Pathological examination showed hepatocyte necrosis and inflammation of minimal area and little fibrosis in CAPE (12 mg/kg, via i.p.route) group, which is less than that in model group.Conclusion CAPE could inhibit lipid peroxidation and enhance antioxidant capacity.Additionally, within the dose range, intraperitoneal injection was much more effective than orally administration.