Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the protective effects of astaxanthin against the acute chemical liver injury in mice and research its possible mechanism.MethodsSixty male Kunming mice were randomly distributed into control group, acute chemical liver injury model group, DDB group(15 mg/kg) and low,middle, high dose of astaxanthin groups(10, 15, 20 mg/kg).Deteunination and comparison were done for liver index, seaun alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),superoxide dism utase (SOD),glutathione perioxidase (GSH-Px) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA)content, liver SOD,GSH-Px activity, MDA content and liver tissue pathology index.ResultsTreatment with different dose astaxanthin could significantly increase seaun and liver tissue SOD (model group: 74.52±14.40, 102.29±34.29; as taxanth in groups from low to high dose: 110.18±14.28, 141.52±28.29; 138.09±17.81, 172.20±29.24; 170.19±20.20, 200.12 ±33.42),GSH-Px activity (model group: 60.13±10.28, 110.69 ±24.26; astaxanthin groups from low to high dose: 63.30 ±11.01, 112.29±25.41; 72.40±10.77, 142.96±24.13; 90.17±11.29, 170.38±26.34) (P<0.01) and decrease seiwn ALT (model group: 108.02±5.06; astaxanthin groups from low to high dose: 99.29±5.27,83.50±5.12, 68.12±5.12), AST (model group: 97.28±12.28; astaxanthin groups from low to high dose: 80.49±28, 64.20±4.10, 52.21±4.42) (P<0.01) and MDA content in liver tissue(model group: 11.49±2.04, 12.66±2.01; astaxanthin groups from low to high dose: 10.15±1.12, 11.28±1.72; 9.71±1.26, 9.87±1.19; 8.21±1.38, 9.12±1.24)(P<0.01).Pathology index obser vations showed that astaxanthin could ameliorate the liver injury in different degree.ConclusionAs taxanthin showed protective effects on the acute chemical liver injury induce by CCl₄ in mice.