This study was performed to investigate hepatoprotective effect of rutin on acute hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups; normal control group, $CCl_4$ control group, two rutin treatment groups (rutin 200+$CCl_4$ and rutin 400+$CCl_4$). Dissolving vehicles were applied to the rats in the normal control group. The rutin was administrated to the rats in rutin 200+$CCl_4$ and rutin 400+$CCl_4$ groups at the levels of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, 3 consecutive days orally, with 24 hours interval before inoculating $CCl_4$. $CCl_4$ was intraperitoneally administered an hour after the last treatment of rutin to the rats in every group except the normal control group. The body weight of rats in $CCl_4$ control group were significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05), but the liver weight and relative liver weight were higher than normal control group (p < 0.05). The activities of ALT, AST, ALP, GTP, LDH and the level of total bilirubin in sera of rats in $CCl_4$ control group were higher and the levels of total protein, albumin and globulin were lower than the normal group (p < 0.05). The activities of ALT, AST, ALP, GTP, LDH and the level of total bilirubin in rutin 200+$CCl_4$ and rutin 400+$CCl_4$ groups were lower than $CCl_4$ control group (p < 0.05). Therefore the pre-treatment of rutin before $CCl_4$ inoculation in rats effectively inhibited the elevation of serum ALT, AST and total bilirubin which are the parameters of hepatic damage.