Aim To investigate the effects of tea pigment on experimental atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemia rabbits.Methods According to serum cholesterol and triglyceride level twenty-four rabbits were divided into control group fed with high cholesterol diet, low dose tea pigments group fed with high cholesterol diet and 32 μg/g·d tea pigments orally, high dose tea pigments group fed with high cholesterol diet and 96 μg/g·d tea pigment orally. After 8 weeks, all animals were killed to determine the serum lipids, plasma endothelin, the percent of thoracic aorta inner surface covered by plaque and the ratio of intimal to medial cross-sectional areas in ascendent aorta. Results Tea pigments had no effect on lipid level within the experimental doses.The plasma endothelin level was reduced in high dose tea pigments group (P<0.05). The aorta plaque areas in both tea pigment groups were significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05). Conclusions It is suggested that tea pigments could protect the formation of aorta plaque and reduce the level of endothelin in plasma in the hypercholesterolemia rabbits.