This study was carried out to examine the antioxidative potential, if any, of seabuckthorn leaf aqueous extract, administered orally in rats at a dose of 100 mg kg(-1) both in single and five doses, 30 min before cold (5 degrees C)-hypoxia (428 mm Hg)-restraint (C-H-R) exposure. The effect of the extract was studied on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant parameters in liver and gastrocnemius muscle of rats on attaining the rectal temperature (T(rec)) of 23 degrees C during C-H-R exposure and after recovery (T(rec)37 degrees C) from C-H-R-induced hypothermia. In untreated rats exposed to C-H-R, there was a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver and muscle along with decreased activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver and muscle. Single- and five-dose extract treatment restricted the increase in liver and muscle MDA levels and five doses of extract treatment further improved the levels of liver antioxidants, viz. reduced glutathione (GSH), on recovery of T(rec)37 degrees C, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) during exposure and recovery, normalized CAT activity in liver during C-H-R exposure and an increase on recovery of T(rec)37 degrees C. The decreasing pattern of liver and muscle GST levels both in single-dose and five-dose extract treated rats was similar to that in untreated rats. Results suggested that supplementation with seabuckthorn extract helps to reduce oxidative stress in liver and muscle of rats during C-H-R exposure and post-stress recovery.