Aim To explore the effects of allicin on cholesterol excretion and expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 in Caco-2 cells.Methods Caco-2 cells were randomly divided into control group,cholesterol group,cholesterol plus allicin group,and allicin group.After treatment,oil O staining,high performance liquid chromatography and western blot were performed.Results Cholesterol treatment of Caco-2 cells showed increased intracellular lipid droplet and cholesterol contents compared with control group(P><0.05).However,Allicin significantly decreased lipid droplet and cholesterol contents in cholesterol-treated Caco-2 cells,increased efflux of cholesterol from the cells into the medium.Furthermore,allicin up-regulated the expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 in Caco-2 cell.Conclusion These results suggest that allicin contributes to excretion of cholesterol from Caco-2 cell,which is related to up-regulation of ABCG5 and ABCG8 expression.