ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular protective mixture (CVPM) is a concoction of nine Chinese traditional medicines: Dan-shen root, Szechwan lovge rhizome, Chinese angelica, Hawthorn fruit, Safflower, Peach seed, Red peony root, earthworm, and membranous milkvetch root. These medicines are used to cure cardiovascular disease in China. METHODS: Animal models were established by feeding the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with lipid-rich forage. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was determined to monitor lipid peroxidation. The 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha)(6-keto-PGF(1alpha)) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay to investigate the content of prostacyclin (PGI(2)). Electron microscope (JEM-1200EX) was used to observe the microstructure of the vascular endothelium. Rat aortic endothelial cell was cultured to investigate the effect of CVPM on vascular endothelial cell in vitro. RESULTS: CVPM inhibited the accumulation of TC, LDL-C, and MDA in vivo, when the rats were fed with cholesterol diet. CVPM promoted synthesizing and excreting of PGI(2), since it is capable of activating the proliferation of vascular endothelium in vitro. Electron micrographs showed that CVPM had notable protective effect on the vascular endothelium and prevented the shedding of these cells from subendothelial layer. CONCLUSIONS: CVPM could ameliorate the internal environment in which vascular endothelial cells lived, and activate the proliferation of these cells. Through these mechanisms, CVPM protect vascular endothelial cell from being harmed by excess cholesterol in vivo.