Xinmaitong God Oral Liquid Anti-experimental Atherosclerosis And Its Mechanism

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis, like several other vascular diseases, exhibits structural and functional abnormalities resulting partially from an exaggerated proliferation of vascular smooth-muscle cells (VSMCs), account for the most important cause of mortality in our country. XinMeiShen oral liquid (XIN-MAI-SI-IEN), a Chinese medicine preparation composed of membranous milkvetch root (mongolian milkvetch root) and tuber fleeceflower root etc, has been used successfully to treat angina pectoris and coronary heart disease for years. Pilot study indicated that XIN-MAI-SHEN retard the progression of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was designed to examine the antiatherogenic effects and its mechanisms of XIN-MAI-SHEN with experimental atherosclerotic rabbits and by using rabbit aortic VSMCs in culture, also to compare X1N-MAI-SHEN with simvastatin, one of the most effective antiatherosclerotic agents. METHODS-Section I: 64 male New Zealand White rabbits were classified into five groups. Rabbits were fed regular chow (Control Group), chow with 1% cholesterol (atherosclerosis model group), 1% cholesterol diet plus simvastatin (simvastatin prevent Group), 1% cholesterol diet plus XIN-MAI-SHEN (XJN-MAI-SHEN prevent Group); XrN-MAbSHEN curative Group were fed chow and 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, then plus XIN-MAI-Sl-IEN for another 4 weeks. II The hypolipidemic effect of the above treatments was examined by estimating serum total Cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). In order to evaluate the antioxidant status of the rabbits, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Nitrogen monoxide (NO), endothelins (ET), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha Prostaglandins (6-keto-PGF10 )and thromboxane B2( TXB2 )were determined by chromatometry and radioimmunoassay for assessment the function of endothelium and blood platelet. The extent of aortic atherosclerosis was measured by ligth microscope, electron microscope and planimetry of the sudanophilic area. METHODS-Section II: After preparation of cultured aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) from primary aortic explants, the cytotoxicity of sera from XLN-MAI-SHEN and simvastatin tablet treated rabbit for cultured cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion test and cell counting. The proliferative response was determined from the uptake of [3H]-thymidine and MIT test. Proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc play a role in regulating VSMC proliferation. Its expressions were explored with immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS-Section I: The marked rise in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides that followed 12 weeks of cholesterol feeding, was significantly reduced by XIN-MAI-SHEN and results were compared with simvastatin, a standard orally effective hypolipidaemic drug; The cholesterol-enriched diet-induced lipid peroxidation in serum was ameliorated as a result of XIN-MAJ-S HEN prevent group and simvastatin group. Serum SOD activity was not affected by hypercholesterolemia or by any of the treatments; XIN-MAI-SHEN was successful in a significant reduction of ET in a way comparable to simvastatin. Both simvastatin and XIN-MAI-SHEN failed to exert any significant reverse the reduction of NO associated with...