Perturbation of the tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)(3)2+]-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) oscillating chemiluminescence (CL) reaction induced by L-cysteine was observed in the closed system. It was found that the CL intensity was decreased in the presence of L-cysteine. Meanwhile, oscillation period and oscillating induction period were prolonged. The sufficient reproducible induction period was used as parameter for the analytical application of oscillating CL reaction. Under the optimum conditions, the changes in the oscillating CL induction period were linearly proportional to the concentration of L-cysteine in the range from 8.0 x 10(-7) to 5.0 x 10(-5 )mol L(-1) (r = 0.997) with a detection limit of 4.3 x 10(-7) mol L(-1). The possible mechanism of L-cysteine perturbation on the oscillating CL reaction was also discussed.