BACKGROUND This study was designed to examine the effects of desferrioxamine and quercetin on hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rat. METHODS Thirty Wistar albino rats were randomized into five groups. Group I was the control group. Group II received no treatment. Group III and group IV received intramuscular injections of desferrioxamine (100 mg/kg per day) and quercetin (50 mg/kg per day) respectively. Group V was administered desferrioxamine and quercetin in combination. After treatment for 3 days, groups II, III, IV, and V were exposed to total hepatic ischaemia for 45 minutes. Plasma alanine aminotransferase levels, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione activities were measured after reperfusion for 1 hour. Histopathological analysis of liver tissues was carried out. RESULTS Our results indicated that tissue malondialdehyde levels and histopathological liver damage scores were significantly higher in the ischaemia-reperfusion group than in the control group. Administration of desferrioxamine, quercetin, and desferrioxamine+quercetin significantly decreased these parameters. Plasma alanine aminotransferase levels were also increased after ischaemia-reperfusion. Quercetin and desferrioxamine + quercetin significantly decreased the activity of this enzyme when compared to ischaemia-reperfusion group. CONCLUSIONS The present data suggest that both desferrioxamine and quercetin may be useful to protect against ischaemia-reperfusion induced liver damage.