The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the pentagalloic acid compound in inhibiting the metal ions and cell lines that mediate in low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Pentagalloic acid prolonged the lag time preceeding the onset of conjugated diene formation. In chemically induced LDL oxidation by Cu$^2$(sup)+ plus hydrogen peroxide or peroxyl radical generated by 2, 2-azo-vis (2-amidino propane) hydrochloride (AAPH), pentagalloic acid inhibited LDL oxidation as monitored by measuring the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), malondialdehyde(MDA), and gel electrophoretic mobility. The physiological relevance of the antioxidative activity was validated at the cellular level where pentagalloic acid inhibited mouse macrophage J774 and endothelial cell-mediated LDL oxidation. When compared with several other antioxidants, pentagalloic acid showed a much higher ability than naturally occuring antioxidants, ${alpha}$-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, and the synthetic antioxidant, probucol.