This study investigated the intervention effect of Guanxinning
Tablet on
human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
injury induced by oxidized
low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), providing experimental basis for Guanxinning
Tablet in the
treatment of
atherosclerosis-related
diseases. Under the damage of HUVECs by ox-LDL, the
cell viability was detected by
CCK-8 (
cell counting kit-8) assay;
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the
cell culture supernatant was detected by the corresponding kit; the
cell morphology of different groups was observed by common phase contrast microscope;
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO levels in the
cells were detected by DCFH-DA and DAF-FM DA probes, respectively;
monocyte adhesion assay was used to detect the recruitment of THP-1 in HUVECs, and TMRM
dye was used to detect the level of
mitochondrial membrane potential;
interleukin-6 (
IL-6),
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (
ICAM-1) and
monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)
secretion in the
cells was detected by
ELISA assay. The results showed that Guanxinning
Tablet had a concentration-dependent proliferative effect on HUVECs. Under the stimulation of 100 μg·mL-1 ox-LDL, the morphology of
endothelial cells was significantly changed. At this
time, NO level was significantly decreased, ROS level was significantly increased and accompanied by a decrease in
mitochondrial membrane potential. The recruitment of
THP-1 cells by
endothelial cells and
IL-6,
ICAM-1 and MCP-1 were also significantly increased, resulting in
oxidative stress and inflammatory
injury. Guanxinning
Tablet and its composed extracts could significantly improve
cell morphology, increase NO level, decrease ROS
production, and also reduce the
secretion of
inflammation-related
proteins IL-6 and MCP-1.
Salvia miltiorrhiza and
Ligusticum striatum DC. have significant synergistic effects on NO. Among them, salvianolic
acid B and salvianic
acid A exerted the main effects, and the combined
efficacy of salvianic
acid A and ferulic
acid was superior to that of single
administration. The above results showed that Guanxinning
Tablet and their active substances had the effects of improving endothelial basal function, resisting
oxidative stress, and alleviating inflammatory
injury, and
Salvia miltiorrhiza and
Ligusticum striatum DC. synergized, which may be related to their
regulation of
oxidative stress and
inflammation and have application prospects in the
treatment of
atherosclerosis-related
diseases.