Objective To investigate the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and possible mechanisms. Methods According to the random number table method, 24 male SD rats were divided into four groups (n=6): a Sham group, an I/R group, an EGb761 (EGb) group and an EGb761+mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) agonist p79350 (EGb+p) group. Rats in the Sham group were dissected the porta without ligation alone; those in the I/R group were used to establish a model of 70% hepatic I/R through clamping the left and middle hepatic vein vessels for 30 min; those in the EGb group were intravenously injected with 50 mg/kg EGb761 30 min before modeling; and those in the EGb+p group were intravenously injected with 20% p79350 solution at 0.1 ml/d for five consecutive day before modeling, in addition to the same treatment in the EGb group. After reperfusion for six hours, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The levels of hepatic function indexes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ‑glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were detected by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The apoptosis of hepatic cells was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‑mediated dUTP‑biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of p38 MAPK was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the Sham group, the I/R group, the EGb group and the EGb+p group showed remarkable increases in the levels of ALT, AST and GGT (P<0.05); in the apoptosis rate (P<0.05) and p38 MAPK expression (P<0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the EGb group produced remarkable decreases in the levels of ALT, AST and GGT (P<0.05); in the apoptosis rate (P<0.05) and p38 MAPK expression (P<0.05). There was no significant difference as to the above indicators between the EGb+p group and the I/R group (P>0.05). Conclusions EGb761 has protective effects on hepatic I/R injury, which may be related to inhibiting the expression of p38 MAPK in the liver.