This study was performed to develop new anti-obesity agents for functional foods from medicinal plants and herbs. Methanol extracts from 560 kinds of medicinal plants and herbs, and their lipase inhibitory activities were investigated. Methanol extract from Desmodium oxyphyllum Dc showed the highest lipase inhibitory activity at 74.2%. This lipase inhibitory activity was maximally extracted when powder of Desmodium oxyphyllum Dc was treated with 80% methanol (1 : 20) for 48 h.