Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of hydroxy safflor yellow A ( HSYA ) on angiogenesis of H22 tumor-bearing mice and it's effects on the protein expression of MMP-3 .Methods After establishing the hep-atoma model for 24 h, the mice were randomly divided into control group , sorafenib group and HSYA group , the dose HSYA group received intraperitoneal injection at different dosages (1.125 and 2.25 mg/kg).The pathologi-cal changes were examined with HE staining , immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were applied to meas-ure the expression of angiogenesis related factor ( MMP-3 ) and we also detected the microvessel density with CD 34 . Results Compared with control group , the tumor cells proliferation and the new angiogenesis in HSYA group were suppressed .The expression of MMP-3 in HSYA group was significant reduced .Especially the dose of 2.25 mg/kg HSYA group ( P<0.01 ) , and tumor MVD-CD34 was also significantly reduced ( P<0.01 ) .But the effect is not better than sorafenib group .Conclusions HSYA may inhibit angiogenesis of tumor tissue in a certain concentration range and the anti-angiogenesis effect of HSYA may be related to inhibition of the protein expression of matrix met-alloproteinase-3 .