Background & Aim:Ethanol metabolism by the liver differentially impairs hepatic functions. This study investigated the attenuating potential of Abrus precatorius seeds on liver damage in HCl/EtOH induced rats and evaluated the prophylactic potential of ethylacetate extract of A. precatorius on the hepatic function of acidified ethanol induced rats.Experimental: Rats were pre-treated with ethylacetate extract of A. precatorius seeds and standard drugs for eight consecutive days and 0.15M HCl/EtOH (60%) (1:1) was administered once on the 8th day. Biochemical assay, mRNA expression and liver histo-pathological studies were performed using standard procedures.Results: HCl/EtOH induction significantly (p <0.05) raised hepatic alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase activities that were ameliorated by pre-treatment with 100 and 200mg/kg b.w of A. precatorius seeds extract. The significant (p <0.05) up-regulation of CYP2D3, CYP3A4 and GGT mRNA expression in the liver tissues of HCl/EtOH induced rats were successfully down-regulated upon pre-treatment with the extract. The micro-morphological alteration characterized by severe congestion of central venules and sinusoids, fibrosis at the portal veins and presence of inflammatory cells observed in HCl/EtOH induced rats was reversed by pre-treatment with A. precatorius seeds.Recommended applications/industries: Acidified ethanol used for ulcerative induction could result in liver injury in rats; pre-treatment with A. precatorius seeds extract could exert hepato-protective efficacy. Manuscript profile