The protective actions of ambroxol, rutin, glutathione and harmaline on oxidative damages of various tissue components were compared. The mechanisms by which they prevent oxidative tissue damages were explored. Lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes induced by combinations of $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate or $Fe^{+3}$, ADP and NADPH was inhibited by $50; muM$ of rutin, ambroxol, harmaline and glutathione. Ambroxol ($100; muM$) inhibited the degradation of hyaluronic acid by $Fe^{2+}$, $H_2O$_2$ and ascorbate, and it was greater than that of harmaline, whereas hyaluronic acid degradation was not prevented by rutin and glutathione. The compounds used ($100; muM$) did not protect the degradation of cartilage collagen by xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Rutin, glutathione and harmaline decreased the degradation of IgG by xanthine and xanthine oxidate, while ambroxol did not attenuate degradation of IgG. Glutathione showed a scavenging action on $H_2O_2$. The compounds all showed scavenging actions on hydroxyl radical. Ambroxol and harmaline exhibited quenching effects en singlet oxygen. In conclusion, ambroxol, rutin, glutathione and harmaline may exert protective effects differently on tissue components against oxidative attack depend on kind of tissue component and free radical.