Cnidii Rhizoma water extract (CRW) was tested for liver cancer chemopreventive potential by measuring the inhibition of phase I enzyme and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation and induction of phase II detoxification enzymes. There was 17.0% inhibition in the activity of cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme with the treatment of 150 mg/ml CRW. At concentration of 30 mg/ml CRW, the binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metablites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cell was inhibited by 33.3%. CRW was potent inducer of quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in cultured murine hepatoma Hepalc1c7 cells. However, hepatic glutathione (GSH) level was not influenced by CRW. These findings suggest that CRW has chemopreventive potential of liver cancer by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A1 activity and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation and inducing QR and GST activities.