Effect of Tangerine Peel and Pinellia Ternata on Expression of VCAM-1 and MMP-9 in Carotid Atherosclerosis Rabbits / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To research the influence of tangerine peel and pinellia ternata on the expression of VCAM-1 and MMP-9 in carotid atherosclerosis rabbits, and explore its mechanism. Methods Totally 25 male rabbits were divided into control group, model group and Chinese medicine group. Control group was treated with basic diet, model group and Chinese medicine group were treated with both high-fat diet and carotid artery intima-air drying technique. Chinese medicine decoction group was treated with tangerine peel and pinellia ternata decoction, as 10, 8, 6 mL/kg, for 4 weeks. Then the right carotid was cut and fixed, and pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The expressions of VCAM-1 and MMP-9 were observed by immunol histochemistry SABC method. Results Compared with control group, the expression of VCAM-1 and MMP-9 in model group was significantly increased (P<0.01). And compared with model group, tangerine peel and pinellia ternata decoction significantly restrained VCAM-1 and MMP-9 expression (P<0.05). Conclusion Tangerine peel and pinellia ternata could restrained VCAM-1 and MMP-9 expression in carotid atherosclerosis rabbits, suggesting that its mechanism may be related with inhibiting vascular inflammatory reaction and stabilizing plaques.