Aim To study the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304) and the inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B(Sal B) in vitro. Methods Exposured to 5 mg/L LPC or LPC +Sal B for 24 h, VEGF protein in ECV304 cells conditioned media of each group were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, VEGF mRNA expression in ECV304 was examined by in situ hybridization. Results LPC upregulated VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA expression in the ECV304 cells. Sal B could markedly inhibit the LPC-induced increasing of VEGF(P<0.001). Conclusions LPC could induce a strong expression of VEGF in ECV304 cells and Sal B could inhibit it.