BackgroundAllicin, a primary ingredient of garlic, has been proposed to possess cardioprotective properties, which are commonly mediated by improved endothelial function.MethodsTo investigate the effect and mechanism of allicin on the apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we used Propidium iodide (PI) staining and Annexin V/ PI staining assays to establish a model of oxidative stress apoptosis induced by H2O2. MTT, RT-PCR and western-blot assays were used to detect the effects and mechanism of allicin on the model.ResultsPI staining, Annexin V/ PI staining assays and morphological assessment suggest that the cell death induced by 0.5 mM H2O2 is primarily apoptotic. Conversely, allicin reverses the effect of H2O2 on cell death, suggesting a role in protecting HUVECs from apoptosis. We demonstrated that H2O2 activates PARP cleavage, reduces pro-Caspase-3 levels and activates Bax expression; however, allicin inhibits each of these apoptotic signaling indicators. Allicin also reduces the levels of malondialdehyde and increases the levels of superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide release and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA, but has no significant effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that allicin has powerful effects in protecting HUVECs from apoptosis and suggest that protection occurs via a mechanism involving the protection from H2O2-mediated oxidative stress.