From the methanolic extract of the rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria, we isolated anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene furanodiene (1) and furanodienone (2) along with new sesquiterpene compound 3 and known eight sesquiterpenes, zederone (4), curzerenone (5), curzeone (6), germacrone (7), 13-hydroxygermacrone (8), dehydrocurdione (9), curcumenone (10), and zedoaronediol (11). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory effect of isolated components on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation of mouse ears were examined. Compounds 1 and 2 suppressed TPA-induced inflammation of mouse ears by 75% and 53%, respectively, at a dose of 1.0 µmol. Their activities are comparable to that of indomethacin, the normally used anti-inflammatory agent.Keywords: anti-inflammatory; Curcuma zadoaria; 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced edema Zedoary (Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is cultivated as a vegetable, spice, and perfumery material in Southeast Asian countries. The rhizome of this plant has been used as a stimulant, stomachic, carminative, diuretic, anti-diarrheal, anti-emetic, anti-pyretic, and depurator, and also as an ointment for ulcers, wounds, and other skin disorders. 1) Recently, Yoshikawa et al have revealed that chemical constituent of C. zedoaria showed vasorelaxant, heptatoprotective, and inhibitory activity of NO production. 2)-4) The zedoary is used to the treatment of the skin disease, however the study of the anti-inflammatory effect of chemical constituents from C. zedoaria has not been studied so far except that of dehydrocurdione (9) by Yoshioka et al. 5) Therefore, we tried to isolate sesquiterpens from zedoary and subject on anti-inflammatory test. For isolating sesquiterpens like dehydrocurudione, we used the reddish spot on thin layer chromatography with spraying of anisaldehyde/sulfuric acid as index.In the present paper, we describe the structure of isolated eleven sesquiterpenes from C. zedoaria and their anti-inflammatory effect on the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced edema of mouse ears.The zedoary rhizome (cultivated in Okinawa, Japan) was soaked in methanol, and the resulting methanol extract was concentrated in vacuo.The concentrate was successively partitioned between benzene and water, and then ethyl acetate and water.The benzene-soluble part showed anti-inflammatory activity (IE of 34% at a dose of 2 mg). The benzene-soluble part was chromatographed on silica gel to give 20% ethyl