The protective effects of onion extract (OE), onion powder extracted in ethanol for 2 days. on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicities and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection were investigated in mice. Pretreatment with OE prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ significantly reduced the increase in serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with OE significantly prevented the depletion of reduced glutathione content in the liver of $CCl_4$-intoxicated mice. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic findings. The effects of OE on the cytochrome P450 (P450) 2E1, the major isozyme involved in $CCl_4$ biotransformation were investigated. Treatment of mice with OE resulted in a significant decrease in P450 2E1-dependent p-nitrophenol and aniline hydroxylation in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, the P450 2E1 expressions were also decreased, as determined by immunoblot analysis. OE also exhibited antioxidant effects in FeCl$_2$-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates and in superoxide radical scavenging activity. These results show that the protective effects of OE against the $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity may be due to its ability to block bioactivation of $CCl_4$, mainly tty inhibiting the expression and activities of P450 2E1 and by scavenging free radicals.