This study investigated the synergy effects of hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine on the lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system of rats on hypercholesterol diets. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either a hypercholesterol diet with water or a hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine. The experimental groups consisted of the control group (CO), the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus(ES), and the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine(ESC). Eleutherococcus senticosus was extracted, made into 0.5% solution, and fed to the ES and ESC groups. A 3% carnitine diet was supplied to the ESC group. Hypercholesterol diets contained 18% beef tallow and 5% cholesterol. After 4 weeks of administering these diets, serum and liver were obtained and the level of serum lipid and the activities of GOT and GPT were measured. In addition, the level of liver lipid and TBARS and the activity of GSH-Px were measured. The results were as follows: 1) Weight gain and FER in the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine(ESC) was low significantly(P<0.05). 2) In the groups supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus(ES) and the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherocorcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine(ESC), total serum cholesterol levels were both significantly low (P<0.05,P.0.01). 3) Serum GOT activity was significantly low(P<0.05) in the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus(ES) and in the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietary carnitine(ESC). There was no difference between serum GPT activity in the control group and the groups supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus or dietary carnitine. 4) Liver triglyceride was low (P.0.05) in the group supplied with hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine(ESC). No difference was observed in other lipid composition, TBARS level, and GSH-px activity in liver between the control group and the experimental groups. In summary, the effects of hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine on the lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system (such as weight gain, FER, total serum cholesterol and liver triglyceride) were low when Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietarty carnitine were supplied simultaneously.