This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Taraxacum herba extract on the hepatic xanthine oxidase activity as a oxygen free radical generating enzyme in vitro and in vivo. It was observed that partial purified hepatic xanthine oxidase (type O) activity was strongly inhibited by the addition of Taraxacum herba n-butanol extract in vitro. The Km value of xanthine oxidase without affecting the Vmax value for xanthine was significantly increased by the addition of ta-dase (type O) activity was significantly inhibited by the treatment of Taraxacum gerba n-butanol ex-tract for 5days(over 40mg/kg, i.p), whereas, xanthine oxidase (type D) activity was not changed by the injection of Taracacum herba n-butanol extract. Meanwhile, liver weight / body weight(%), serum alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic lipid peroxide content in Taraxacum herba n-buta-nol extract-treated rat were not changed. These findings led us to conclude that Taraxacum herba n-butanol extract may regulate the hepatic xanthine oxidase type O activity to prevent toxic effect of oxidative stress by the oxygen free radicals.