The influence of the extract of Curcuma comosa Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) on lipid metabolism was investigated in hypercholesterolaemic hamsters. Intragastric administration of the ethyl acetate extract of C. comosa rhizome (0-500 mg/kg per day) to hypercholesterolaemic animals for 7 days decreased both plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction of plasma cholesterol levels was accompanied by a significant increase in the hepatic cholesterol content while the triglyceride content was not significantly changed. The increase of the hepatic cholesterol content was brought about by an expansion of the free cholesterol pool which specifically augments biliary cholesterol excretion. The C. comosa extract also increased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and decreased plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. These results suggest that the C. comosa extract exerts a hypolipidaemic action by acceleration of lipid mobilization from extrahepatic tissue to the liver which subsequently increases excretion of cholesterol via the bile for excretion.