Aim To investigate the effect of sodium ferulate(SF), one of the principal components of rhizoma ligustici wallichii, on the migration induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC). Methods Cultured VSMC derived from spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) were used. Cell migration was determined by modified Boyden chamber assays. [Ca 2+]i was measured with fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator Fura-2/AM. Results ET-1 and PDGF significantly induced a migration of VSMC in a dose-dependent manner, which was inhibited by pre-treatment of VSMC with SF(10 -7～10 -3mol/L) dose-dependently. The peak inhibition rate of migration induced by ET-1 and PDGF were 85.04% and 81.92% (p<0.01) respectively. ET-1 and PDGF provoked the rise of [Ca 2+]i in VSMC which was significantly suppressed by 10 -3 mol/L SF(p<0.01)with a inhibitory peak at 80.14% and 76.69%. Conclusions The migration and rise of [Ca 2+]i induced by ET-1 and PDGF in VSMC from SHR may be suppressed by SF.