Abstract: AimTo study the effect of puerarin on vascular endothelial cells apoptosis induced by chemical hypoxia-ischemia in vitro. MethodsThe chemical hypoxia-ischemia model was performed by treating cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with NaCN in glucose-free medium. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue staining. Cell apoptosis was defined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining. The expression of Caspase-3 in endothelial cells was detected by immunocytochemical method. ResultsChemical hypoxia-ischemia was shown to initiate bovine aortic endothelial cell apoptosis. Puerarin (0.5-3 mmol·L^-1) was found to inhibit endothelial cell apoptosis effectively, and reduce the expression of Caspase-3 significantly. Conclusion Puerarin can protect apoptotic endothelial cells induced by chemical hypoxia-ischemia markedly and the effect was performed partly by decreasing Caspase-3 expression.