Aim To investigate the influence of icariin on adhesion molecule gene expression in hyperlipidemia rats.Methods 40 male healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:control group,high cholesterol group,high cholesterol with low dose icariin(100 mg/kg)group,high cholesterol with high dose icariin(200 mg/kg)group.Serum lipid level of all rats was measured and the aorta was taken for pathologic analysis.The mRNA expression of both intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) on the aorta was analyzed by realtime PCR.Results As compared with the high cholesterol group,the level of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC) in high cholesterol with icariin was obviously lower(P<0.05 or 0.01);the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 was significantly decreased(P<0.01);but the mRNA expression of VCAM-1 was not significantly inhibited.Conclusion Icariin can reduce the level of blood lipid and the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 in hyperlipidemia rats.