Objective: To investigate the protective effect of salvianolic acid B(Sal B) on hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV-304). Methods: The dosage of the high glucose and oxidized low density lipoprotein and the concentration of the drugs were confirmed by MTT. ECV-304 was identified by CD31 immunofluorescent staining. The cell models of endothelial cell oxidative damage were established by oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL). The model cells were divided into 5 groups. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Results: The optimum concentration of the glucose was 44 mmol/L, OX-LDL was 50 mg/L, the effective concentration of Sal B was 10-4 mol/L and lovastatin was 50 μmol/L. The number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in ECV-304 after exposure to hyperglycemia compared with that of normal glucose level (P 0.05). The hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated after pretreatment with Sal B (P 0.01). The apoptosis rates were significantly higher in the middle and high concentrations of Sal B group than those of lovastatin group (P 0.05). Conclusion: Results of our study indicate that Sal B could inhibit high glucose-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which provide a basis for future therapeutic interventions in diabetic vascular complications.