Objective: To study the effect of natural carotene on dimethylbenzanthracent (DMBA) induced oral premalignant epithelia in Syrian golden hamsters. Methods: The hamsters were divided into a control group, oral premalignant epethelia group, carotene administration group (applied into stomach with 0.5% natural carotene, 15 mg/kg/day; 5 days a week for 4 weeks), and topical application group (applying natural carotene paste 10 mg/1x1cm², 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment and buccal mucosa from the left and right sides were excised for histopatholigic examination. Results: Both gastric and topical application groups had evident effects, but the effect of the former group was superior in treating oral premalignant epithelia than that of the latter group. Conclusion: Natural carotene could effectively reverse dimethylbenzanthracene-induced oral premalignant epithelia in hamsters toward normal.