Excessive　reactive　oxygen　species　(ROS)　can　induce　oxidative　damage　to　cell　membranes　and　biomolecules,　leading　to　various　chronic　diseases.　Therefore,　the　exploration　of　effective　natural　antioxidants　that　can　replace　traditional　synthetic　antioxidants　to　reduce　excess　free　radicals　without　side　effects　is　important.　Herein,　the　antioxidant　peptide　(Lateolabrax　japonicus　protein　hydrolysates;　LPH)　was　obtained　from　bass　(L.　japonicus)　by　an　optimal　enzymatic　hydrolysis　process.　The　protective　effect　of　LPH　on　the　Caco-2　cell　oxidative　stress　model　and　the　potential　antioxidant　signaling　pathways　were　explored.　The　results　showed　that　LPH　was　rich　in　hydrophobic　amino　acids,　and　the　IC50　for　2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl　radical　scavenging　activity　was　0.9667 mg/mL.　Furthermore,　the　LPH　treatment　reduced　cellular　ROS　levels　and　lipid　peroxidation　while　increasing　antioxidant　enzyme　activity　in　a　dose-dependent　manner　(p <.05).　LPH　also　upregulated　the　expression　of　mRNAs　related　to　antioxidant　enzymes　in　the　Nrf2　signaling　pathway　(p <.05),　demonstrating　the　efficacy　of　LPH　on　the　Nrf2–ARE　signaling　pathway.　These　results　suggested　that　LPH　could　be　used　as　a　potential　food-derived　antioxidant　in　the　food　and　healthcare　industries.　©　2023　The　Authors.　Food　Frontiers　published　by　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Australia,　Ltd　and　Nanchang　University,　Northwest　University,　Jiangsu　University,　Zhejiang　University,　Fujian　Agriculture　and　Forestry　University.