Objective To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract from Selaginella involvens(EESI)on carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄)-induced hepatic damaged mice. Methods The animals were randomly divided into six groups, and treated as follows: GroupⅠ and GroupⅡ were normal control group and model group, and they were both given 20 mL/kg normal saline. Group Ⅲ were given 80 mg/kg silymarin. Group Ⅳ, Ⅴ and Ⅵ were given EESI with the dose of 40, 80, 120 mg/kg respectively. All groups were given medicines or normal saline via intragastric administration once a day lasting for 7 days. 2 h after the last intragastric administration, all animals were given 0.2% CCl₄ with the dose of 10 mL/kg except normal control group. After 18 h, all animals were weighted and blood sample were collected by eye bleeding method. The activities of alanine transaminase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)of blood sample were evaluated. Following the sacrifice for all the animals, the livers were dissected. Thereafter, the activities of total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC), catalase(CAT)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)of liver supernatant were tested. The livers were fixed in 10% formaldehyde at room temperature for histological analysis. Results Administration of EESI significantly reduced the level of ALT, AST(P<0.01). Compared with model group, administration of EESI could significantly enhance the level of T-AOC, CAT(P<0.01). Groups other than the low dose group, significant differences in SOD activity existed between model group and EESI administration groups(P<0.01). Administration of EESI could alleviate liver injury in sinusoidal spaces in CCl₄-induced hepatic mice. Conclusion EESI may protect hepatic injury in CCl₄-induced mice.