To investigate an effect of the ethanol extract of Lycium chinense(EELC) on the activities of enzymes scavenging oxygen free radicals or detoxicating alcohol. The ground Lycium chinense was extracted with 30% edible ethanol and then diluted with 6% ethanol to contain 2% EELC(w/v). Three different groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats had taken a drink EELC, ethanol(ETH) or water(control), respectively for 2 months. At the end of experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and obtained the following findings. The EELC-treated animals showed the highest activity of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase among three groups. The activities of xanthine oxidase and cytochrome p-450 from EELC treatment group were lower than those from ETH-treated group. However, the activity of superoxide dismutase was higher in the EELC-treated group than the ETH-treated(p<0.005). Furthermore, hepatic alcohol or aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase were significantly higher in EELC-treated animals than in ETH-treated those. The activity of glutathione S-transferase in liver was appeared the orderly higher value in EELC, ETH and control-treated group. As the result, EELC may affect the reduction of oxygen free radical production and help the detoxication of ethanol.