SUMMARYThe hepatoprotective activity of the alcoholic extract of Rosa damascena was studied against paracetamol induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver damage was assessed by estimating serum enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and histopathology of liver tissue. Pre-and post-treatment with ethanolic extracts showed a dose-dependent reduction of paracetamol induced elevated serum levels of enzyme activity. The mechanism underlying the protective effects was assayed in vitro and the R. damascena extracts displayed dosedependent free radical activity using DPPH (IC 5 0 = 162.525 μg/ml) and TBA method. The hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histopathological observation. The ethanolic extracts reversed paracetamol induced liver injury. These results suggest that the hepatoprotective effects of R. damascena extracts are related to its antioxidative activity.