Abstract: AIM　To prepare the zedoary turmeric oil gelatin microspheres (ZT-GMS) for hepatical arterial embolization. METHODS　Orthogonal design was used to optimize the technology of preparation with good yield. The appearance, particle size, drug content, drug release in vitro, stability, and pharmacodynamics of the obtained microspheres were examined. RESULTS　The diameter of 97.16% of the ZT-GMS was in the range of 40～160 μm. The average yield, the average drug content and the average entrapment efficiency were 89.13%, 2.13% and 19.36% respectively (all referred to curcumol). Release of curcumol from the ZT-GMS became much slower and the drug release profiles could be described by first order dynamic model and the release mechanism was erosion and diffusion. Almost no changes were observed in size distribution, drug content, drug release after the ZT-GMS were stored at 40℃ (RH 75%), room temperature and refrigeration (0～4℃). The rats treated with ZT-GMS had a significantly slower tumor growth (P<0.01) and longer survival time (P<0.01). CONCLUSION　The technology of preparation was successful and drug release from ZT-GMS was slow. It can be used for the embolization for hepatical cancer.