This study was done to investigate whether cholic acid derivatives have anti-stress activity and what is a cause of this anti-stress effect. Seven cholic acid derivatives (cholic acid, taurocholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, tauroursodeoxychoic acid, chenodeoxy cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid) were used, silymarin and valproic acid were used as positive controls. Stress was induced by restraint immobilization technique plus water immersion (24hrs) and adrenal weight, spleen weight, adrenal ascorbic acid, serum cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), adrenal cholesterol, glucose and corticosterone levels were measured as stress indicators. Most cholic acid derivatives markedly decreased the adrenal weight, and TUDCA and DHCA increased the spleen weight. The restraint stress induced increments in serum LDH, ALP and cholesterol were attenuated by most cholic acid derivatives. Cholic acid, taurocholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid only increased the content of adrenal ascorbate. While valproic acid showed an inhibitory effect against stress, silymarin did not. Our findings suggest that most cholic acid derivatives have anti-stress effect and that their anti-stress effect is, in part, related to choleretic activity.