The effects of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on the growth, oxidative damage, antioxidant system and ion content in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings under salt stress were investigated. Eggplant seedlings were exposed to 90 mM NaCl with 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 mg dm -3 EBR for 10 d. EBR, especially at concentration 0.05 mg dm -3 , alleviated growth suppression caused by NaCl stress, decreased electrolyte leakage, superoxide production and content of malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 in NaCl-treated plants. EBR also increased activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase and the content of ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione. Furthermore, we also found that Na + and Cl -contents were decreased, K + and Ca 2+ contents and K + /Na + , Ca 2+ /Na + ratios were increased in the presence of EBR under salt stress.