Objective To study the intestinal absorption characteristics of demethoxycurcumin hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (DECD) and demethoxycurcumin (DE) in rats. Methods DECD was prepared by cyclodextrin inclusion technique and characterized by spectroscopic method. The morphology of DECD was observed by microphotograph and zeta potential was examined by Malvern laser particle sizer. In vivo single-pass intestinal perfusion rat model was adopted; the absorption rate constant (Ka), effective permeability (P_app) and percent absorption of DECD and DE were determined using the ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Results DECD was successfully prepared, with a solubility of 2.30 g/L, which was 38.33 times that of DE. Zeta potential of DECD was -32.2 mV. The results of intestinal absorption experiment showed that the Ka and P_app values of DECD decreased in order in the ileum, duodenum, jejunum, and colon. In addition, the Ka, P_app values and percent absorption of DECD were higher than that of DE. Conclusion DECD can markedly improve the intestinal absorption of DE in rats.