ABSTRACT
Objective To study the efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing effects of compatibility of Aconitum carmichaeli and Cornus officinalis on chronic heart failure (CHF) rats. Methods The CHF rats was established by ip injection of adriamycin (ADM), the CHF rats were administrated tested drugs for three weeks by means of ig administration, the tested drugs included extracts of A. carmichaeli, C. officinalis, and Compound. The serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, activity of Ca2+-ATP and Na+, K+-ATP enzymes in cardiac myocytes, and cardiac histopathology were measured. Results After three weeks of modeling, the CHF rats showed signs of ascites, loss of weight, loose stool, hogback, etc. The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and fraction shortening (FS) decreased significantly, and the level of BNP in serum was significantly improved; Pathological changes of ventricular tissue included rupture of myocardial fibers, degeneration and necrosis of cardiomyocytes, etc. After three weeks of gavage compatibility of A. carmichaeli and C. officinalis, the general state and cardiac histopathology of the animal was obviously improved, the level of BNP in serum was reduced significantly, the activity of Na+, K+-ATP enzymes was increased significantly. No notable improvement in the above indexes was obtained after administration of A. carmichaeli and C. officinalis alone. Conclusion The compatibility of A. carmichaeli and C. officinalis can increase the activity of Na+, K+-ATP enzyme in cardiac myocytes, and improve the energy metabolism and activity of cardiac myocytes in chronic heart failure. The compatibility of A. carmichaeli and C. officinalis play the key role of enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity.