In our study, CCK-8 assay and LDH release detection were performed to detect the optimal protective concentration of GSH on HL7702 cell viability during H/R injury. HL7702 cells were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, H/R group, H/R+GSH group, and H/R+GSH+HO-1-siRNA group. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by DHE staning, MDA, T-SOD measurements; Cell injury was detected by CCK-8, LDH release, and supernatant AST and ALT levels; Apoptosis was determined by Hoechst staining and caspase 3 level. Compared with controls, H/R caused significant HL7702 cell injury evidenced as reduced cell viability, increased LDH release and apoptotic cell death (P < 0.01), with concomitant increases in ROS and MDA production (P < 0.01), while treated with GSH in H/R group significantly attenuated oxidative injury, enhanced cell viability and downregulated cell apoptosis (P < 0.01) together with HO-1 upregulation (P < 0.01). Knockdown HO-1 by its siRNA cancelled the protective effects of GSH from H/R compared with GSH group (P < 0.01). HO-1 was induced in HL7702 exposed to H/R injury and its level was obviously overexpressed after H/R injury with GSH treatment, suggesting its protective potential in GSH against H/R injury. GSH increases the expression of HO-1, which enhanced the early antioxidative activity and played a protective role against HL7702 cells H/R injury.