The roots of Sesbenia sesban (L.) Merr. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) are used by the Indians in their herbal medicine as a hypocholesterolemic agent in obese patients. The scientific basis for their use in hypercholesterolemia was therefore examined. It was found that administration of the crude root extract of Sesbenia sesban along with high-fat diet decreased the high-fat diet-induced increases in serum cholesterol. The effect on the serum cholesterol was statistically significant.