Aim To test the effects of Xanthone on the serum lipids and oxidative state of hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods In the preventive experiment, the rats were treated with Xanthone (10, 30 and 90 mg/kg) for 2 days and then treated with cholesterol for 10 days in the presence of Xanthone; In the therapeutic experiment, after the rats were fed with food containing cholesterol for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, the animals were treated with Xanthone for 3 weeks. Serum lipid and malondialdohyde were measured. Results Xanthone, given preventively or therapeutically, markedly decreased total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Moreover, in the therapeutic experiment, xanthone also decreased malondialdohyde content. Conclusion Xanthone could decrease serum lipid and malondialdohyde level of hypercholesterolemic rats.