[Objective]To study the effect of curcumin on the cholesterol metabolism of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) cells model induced in vitro and its potential mechanism. [ Methods]The cellmodel of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) was established by oleic acid and treated with curcumin. The method of oil red O staining was used to observe accumulation of intracellular lipid while the intracellular content of TG, FC and TC was detected by enzymatic method. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of SR-BΙand HMGCR were detected with qPCR.[ Results] The NAFLD cellmodel was successful y established by culturing with 30 μg·mL-1 oleic acid. After curcumin intervention, TG, FC and intracellular lipid accumulation levels were significantly reduced in NAFLD cellmodel. Meanwhile, curcumin can reduce HMGCR mRNA expression and raise SR-BΙ mRNA expression. [Conclusion] Curcumin can decrease FC level in NAFLD cellmodel and the mechanism might be related with its capacity of restraining endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis and promoting foreign cholesterol transfer into the liver cells for metabolism.