The radix of Pueraria thunbergiana BENTHAM (Leguminosae) is traditionally prescribed to attenuate the clinical manifestations of inner ear dysfunction and various clinical situations including fever, gastrointestinal disorders, skin problems, migraine headaches, lowering cholesterol and treating chronic alcoholism in Oriental Medicine. In the present study, we examined the effect of ethanol extract of P. thunbergiana radix (EPR) on cisplatin-mediated HEI-OC1 auditory cell death. In addition, to investingate the protection mechanism of EPR on free radicals. Treatment of EPR protected cells from cisplatin and reduced lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EPR demonstrated significant scavenging activity against various free radicals, including superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and DPPH radical. These results indicate that EPR protects cisplatin-induced damages of HEI-OC1 cells through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and augmenting scavenging activities against free radials.