Objectives : Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) is a plant living at the areas of high-altitude mountain, and Rhodiolae Radix(the root of R. rosea) has been used as a traditional medicine to decrease the symptoms of mental- or physical-stress in Asia and Europe. To examine the efficacy of Rhodiolae Radix on the oxidative stress, the anti-oxidative effects of the radix were examined, Methods : The effects of Rhodiolae Radix on several oxidative factors were examined in vitro, and also the effects were tested in the liver of rats which were treated with a high dose of alcohol during 2 weeks. Results : The extract of Rhodiolae Radix in vitro scavenged some oxidants, such as DPPH, Superoxide anion radical and LDL, and the extract also inhibited the oxidative capacity of linoleic acid, significantly. Meanwhile, in the in vivo test, the methanol-extract decreased some oxidation parameters, such as relative liver weight, TBARS and SOD activities, and also increased catalase activity in the liver of alcohol-loaded rats, But, the extract had no effects on GSH content and GSH-px activiy in the rats. Conclusion : The root of Rhodiola rosea has a strong anti-oxidative capacity, and also has some preventive properties aginst the alcoholic stress.