AimTo compare alliin and allicin’s effect in inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) induced inflammation, and to investigate whether alliin can substitute allicin in resisting atherosclerosis.MethodsHuman umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) were divided into ten groups and treated for 16 hours as follows:Control(treated without any drugs), TNF-α(1 μg/L), alliin (10 mg/L), allicin (10 mg/L), TNF-α(1 μg/L) and alliin (5 mg/L,10 mg/L,30 mg/L),TNF-α (1 μg/L) and allicin(5 mg/L,10 mg/L,30 mg/L).The mRNA expression level of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was determined by real-time PCR.THP-1 adhesion to HUVEC was measured by rose Bengal staining.Migration function and MTT text were used to demonstrate the effects of alliin and allicin on the smooth muscle cell’s migration and proliferation.ResultsTNF-α treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 in HUVEC, while alliin and allicin pretreatment all blocked the TNF-α induced mRNA expression of ICAM-1, and also effectively blocked THP-1 adhesions.Further more, alliin and allicin inhibited TNF-α induced contractile fiber cell’s migration and proliferation functions.However, allicin was a bit more effective than alliin.ConclusionBoth alliin and allicin can inhibit TNF-α induced inflammation and atherosclerosis, and alliin may substitute allicin in resisting atherosclerosis to a certain extent.