Solanum lyratum(Solanaceae) has been used as a traditional analgesic, antipyretic and hepatoprotective agents in Korea. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of ethylacetate extract of Solanum lyratum (SL) on the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver damage in rats. Oral administration of SL (150, 300 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks) into the DMN-treated rats remarkably prevented the elevation of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels. SL also increased serum protein level and reduced the hepatic level of malondialdehyde in DMN-treated rats. Furthermore, DMN-induced elevation of hydroxyproline content was reduced by the treatment of SL. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that SL exhibited in vivo hepatoprotective effect against DMN-induced liver injury, and suggest that SL may be useful in the prevention of liver damage.