Objective: To explore the protective effect of essential oil from fructus Alpinia zerumbet(EOFAZ) on endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1). Method: HUVECs were cultured in vitro and the EndMT cell model was reproduced by 10 μg · L-1 TGF-β1 incubated for 48 h.The experiment was divided into four groups

such as normal group

model group(10 μg · L-1 TGF-β1)

EOFAZ high dose group (10 μg · L-1 TGF-β1+4 μg · L-1 EOFAZ) and EOFAZ low dose group (10 μg · L-1 TGF-β1+2 μg · L-1 EOFAZ).After pre-incubation with EOFAZ (4

2 μg · L-1) for 2 h

the EndMT cell model was reproduced.The cell morphology was observed under inverted microscope

and the cell migration ability was analyzed by scratch test.Western blot was used to detect the specific protein expression of vascular endothelial cadherin(VE-cadherin)

α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)

zinc finger transcription factor(Snail) and nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) p-p65. Result: After incubation with TGF-β1

the cell morphology of HUVECs was long spindle shape with visible cells of filamentous pseudopodia

the close connection between cells were reduced

and the cell migration ability of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01)

and the protein expression of VE-cadherin were down-regulated significantly(P<0.01).On the contrary

the expression of α-SMA

Snail and NF-κB p-p65 was significantly increased(P<0.01).Pretreatment with high dose of EOFAZ

the cell migration ability was significantly inhibited;meanwhile

the expression of VE-cadherin was significantly increased(P<0.01)

and expression of α-SMA

Snail and NF-κB p-p65 protein were significantly decreased(P<0.01). Conclusion: EOFAZ has protective effect on EndMT in HUVECs induced by TGF-β1

and the mechanism is related to inhibition of phosphorylation of NF-κB p65.