Recruitment of monocytes to endothelial cells is important during early stages of atherosclerosis development. This process is predominantly mediated by cellular adhesion molecules, including vascular cell adhesion molecule‑1 (VCAM‑1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 (ICAM‑1), which are expressed by activated endothelial cells in response to a number of inflammatory stimuli, including oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Previous studies have demonstrated that berberine, a natural extract from Rhizoma coptidis, prevents oxLDL‑induced endothelial cellular apoptosis. However, its effect on the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells and the mechanism associated with this process remains unclear. In the present study, berberine was revealed to markedly reduce oxLDL‑induced monocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In addition, the inhibitory mechanism of berberine was associated with suppression of adhesion molecule expression, including VCAM‑1 and ICAM‑1. Results indicate that berberine plays a protective role in the early stages of atherosclerosis.