The present study was done to determine the effect of trolox C, a hydrophilic analogue of vitamin E, on hepatic injury, especially the alteration in cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-dependent drug metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Rats were subjected to 60 min of hepatic ischemia and 5 h of reperfusion. Rats were treated intravenously with trolox C (2.5 mg/kg) or vehide (PBS, pH 7.4), 5 min before reperfusion. Serum alanine aminotransferase and lipid peroxidation levels were markedly increased after I/R. This increase was significantly suppressed by trolox C. Cytochrome P-450 content was decreased after I/R but was restored by trolox C. There were no significant differences in ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP 1A1) and methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP 1A2) activities among any of the experimental groups. Pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP 2B1) activity was decreased and aniline p-hydroxylase (CYP 2E1) activity was increased after I/R. Both these changes were prevented by trolox C. Our findings suggest that trolox C reduces hepatocellular damage as indicated by abnormalities in microsomal drug-metabolizing function during I/R, and that this protection is, in part, caused by decreased lipid peroxidation.