The influence of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) derived from mulberry on senescence of endothelial cells was examined with the goal of discovery of a method for prevention of senescence of blood vessels. The effect of DNJ on senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) promoted under high glucose condition was determined. HUVECs were cultured in normal glucose (5.6 mmol/L, NG group), normal glucose plus DNJ (10 mu mol/L, DNJ group), high glucose (30 mmol/L, HG group), or high glucose plus DNJ (10 mu mol/L, HG + DNJ group) and passaged until they reached senescence. The proliferation rate was markedly decreased in the HG group compared with the NG group, and this phenomenon was reversed by DNJ. The frequency of senescent (SA-beta-Gal-positive) cells and the expression level of senescence genes (PAI-1 and p21) were significantly higher in the HG group compared with the NG group, and these changes were blocked by DNJ. Monocyte adhesion, NF-kB activity, and reactive oxygen species production, all of which promote cellular senescence, were significantly increased in the HG group compared with the NG group, and again these changes were blocked by DNJ. Therefore, these results show that DNJ delays cellular senescence that is promoted under high glucose condition. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.