Abstract: Effects of ethanol at different dosages on hepatic antioxidative and detoxicating functions and the antagonizing effect of sodium ferulate have been investigated in mice. The data showed that ethanol(11.4 g·kg^-1, ig) could induce the increase of hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and decreases of hepatic glutathione reductase (GSH-Re), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and reduce glutathione (GSH) content. At the same time, serum GST activity was increased. Pretreatment with sodium ferulate (100 mg·kg^-1ig, qd×10 d) completely reversed these changes induced by ig ethanol in mice, indicating that sodium ferulate could protect mice from ethanol-induced acute hepatotoxicity. The hepato-protective mechanism of sodium ferulate may be related to intensification of the function of glutathione oxidative-reductive enzymes, enhancement of SOD activity and promotion of glutathione conjugation. The results also indicate that the serum GST level is a sensitive indicator in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.