ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang on the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and collagen production in the cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and cultured in DMEM containing 10% (group A) or 20% (group B) or no (group C) serum from rats treated with Bushen Huoxue Fang, with cells cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS as the control (group D). After 72 h of cell culture, the proliferation of the fibroblasts was detected using CCK-8 kit, and collagen mRNA and protein expressions were examined using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with that in groups C and D, the cell proliferation decreased significantly in groups A and B, and especially in the latter (P<0.05). RT-PCR demonstrated significant reductions of the mRNAs of type 1 and 3 collagens in groups A and B (P<0.05), and their protein levels were also significantly lowered (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bushen Huoxue Fang can effectively inhibit the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and reduced collagen type 1 and 3 productions in the cells in vitro.</p>