We evaluated the effects of teas/herbal infusions and their catechol and phenol antioxidants at preventing lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and iron overload toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes. Almost all teas and herbal infusions protected hepatocytes against these oxidative stress systems. Their effectiveness was related to the number and position of hydroxyl groups as well as lipophilicity. Catechol containing tea and herbal infusion antioxidants protected against cumene hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, ROS and ferric overload toxicity much more effectively than phenol antioxidants. The toxicity of teas/herbal herbal infusions towards hepatocytes in vitro and liver in vivo as well as the toxicity of tea/herbal infusion catechol and phenol antioxidants towards hepatocytes in vitro was determined by their ability to be oxidized to lipophilic quinonoids which cause mitochondrial toxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report comparing cytoprotective antioxidant effects of herbal infusions and their polyphenolics towards intact cells undergoing oxidative stress.