Anti-atherosclerotic effect of extract of traditional Chinese medicine formula Dan-yi-lian in ApoE^(-/-) mice

OBJECTIVE To explore the anti-atherosclerotic effect of the extract of traditional Chinese medicine formula Dan-yi-lian(DYL) and the related mechanism.METHODS Atherosclerosis(AS) mod.el was established in ApoE(-/-) mice with a western diet.The mice were orally administered with differ.ent doses of DYL or vehicle daily for 28 d.The anti-atherosclerotic effect was evaluated by measuring the aortic atherosclerotic lesion area and media thickness with ultrasound imaging and histological sec.tions staining method.The effect on blood lipid was investigated by determining TC,TG,LDL,HDL,Apo-A1,Apo-B,etc.The anti-oxidative activity as assessed by determining the level of SOD,CAT,GSH,GSH-Px and MDA.Western blot analysis was used to determine the effect on ICAM-1,VCAM-1,MMP-2 and TNF-α.RESULTS In Dan-yi-lian administered ApoE(-/-) mice,the plaque area and media thickness were significantly reduced.Meanwhile,serum TC,TG,LDL and Apo-B were decreased,in contrast to the increased level of HDL and Apo-A1.On the other hand,SOD,CAT,GSH and GSH-Px were increased,while MDA was reduced in liver homogenate.In addition,the expression of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,MMP-2 and TNF-α was obviously inhibited by Dan-yi-lian.CONCLUSION Dan-yi-lian exhibit.ed potent anti-athero-sclerotic efficacy,in which the lipid-regulating,anti-oxidative and anti-inflammato.ry mechanism might be involved.