To observe the effects of essential garlic oil (EGO) on vascular cell adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression of endothelial cells and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion rate induced by interleukin-1α (IL-1α). Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated by trypsin digestion method and co-cultured with IL-1α or EGO+IL-1α in the absence or presence of U937 monocyte. Monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion rate was examined with reverted microscope. VCAM-1 expression of endothelial cells was measured by ACAS 570 confocal microscope, and the data were presented as mean fluorescent intensity. Results: EGO significantly inhibited IL-1α-induced endothelial expression of VCAM-1, and thus markedly decreased monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion rate. Conclusion: EGO has the effect on antagonizing adhesion of monocyte and vascular endothelial cell, which might be due to its inhibition on adhesive molecular expression on the surface of endothelial cells.