Ethanol extract from Thesium chinense Tunczaninov (TCTE) was tested for breast cancer chemopreventive activity by measuring 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) - induced cytochrome P450 1A1 activity, induction of quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione level. TCTE significantly inhibited cytochrome P45O 1A1 activity at the concentration of 90 and 150 mg/ml. TCTE induced quinone reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of 3-150 mg/ml. In addition glutathione S-transferase activity and glutathione level were increased with TCTE in cultured murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. These results suggest that TCTE has breast cancer chemopreventive potential by inhibiting cytochrome P45O 1A1 activity, inducing quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities, and increasing GSH level.