Abstract: AimTo evaluate the hepatocyte protective effect of agarohexaose against indirect oxidative stress injury induced by antimycin A. MethodsAntimycin A was used to induce oxidative injury of human hepatocyte L-02. The oxidative degree in cells was detected by dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) and the fluorescence generation was recorded by flow cytometer and fluorescent microscope. The apoptosis of L-02 cells induced by oxidation was identified by TUNEL test, and the morphologic features of cells were also observed. ResultsAgarohexaose at concentration of 1 mg·mL^-1 inhibited the oxidation of DCFH into DCF significantly. The fluorescence intensity and oxidized cell number decreased after the incubation with agarohexaose. The photomicrographs of antimycin A and agarohexaose treated cells revealed that agarohexaose could reduce the apoptotic morphologic features. The TUNEL results also indicated that the number of apoptotic cells decreased significantly after the treatment of agarohexaose. ConclusionAgarohexaose could inhibit the sudden increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells significantly, and it also protected cells against oxidative stress injury in vitro.