To find serotonin(5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-antagonizing activities in traditional herbal drugs, crude extracts from 66 kinds of traditional herbal drugs were randomly screened for inhibitory effects on 5-hydroxytryptophan(HTP)-induced diarrhea in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of 5-HTP(2.5 mg/kg) induced diarrhea in 92% of mice, when observed from 10 to 15 min after injection. Crude extracts(2 g/kg) from 66 kinds of traditional herbal drugs were orally pretreated for 1 h before 5-HTP injection. Of the 66 herbal drugs screened, Ephedrae Herba(麻黃), Cimicifugae Rhizoma(升麻), Anisi stellati Fructus(八角茴香), Aurantii Fructus(枳實), Polygalae Radix(遠志) showed the most potent inhibiting activities against 5-HTP(2.5 mg/kg)-induced diarrhea in mice. There are at least 3 possible mechanisms that would be responsible for the inhibitory effect of crude extracts on 5-HTP-induced diarrhea; 1) crude extract-induced inhibition of the activity of aromatic aminoacid decarboxylase catalyzing the conversion of 5-HTP to 5-HT, 2) crude extract-induced blockade of 5-HT receptor(s) in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for 5-HTP-induced diarrhea, 3) crude extract-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal activity, irrespective of 5-HT system. The exact mechanisms and molecules, responsible for the inhibitory effect of crude extracts on 5-HTP-induced diarrhea remain to be clarified.