Objective: To examine the protective effect and its mechanism of
hawthorn on human vascular endothelial cells.
Methods: Original human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) were cultured, and the changes of cell morphology, cell growth condition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from cells, monocyte (MC) adhesion to EC, and thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) were measured when ECs were incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL,100 mg/L) in the presence or not of hawthorn, as well as with hawthorn alone at three different doses (25,50,100 mg/L). Results: ECs survival rate of oxLDL group was lower (P<0.01)and LDH release rate was higher (P<0.05) than those of normal control group. Hawthorn could protect ECs from damage caused by OxLDL. The ECs survival rates of hawthorn+OxLDL groups in three doses were higher (P<0.05), the LDH release rates, MC EC sticking rates and TBARS were lower (P<0.05) in a dose effect manner when compared with those of OxLDL group,respectively. The MC EC sticking rates of hawthorn groups were lower than those of normal control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hawthorn can effectively protect ECs from damage induced by OxLDL, which is contributed from its antioxidation activity and direct action on ECs