Effect of Huangqi injection on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of Chinese traditional medicine Huangqi injection on human vascular endothelial cells. METHODS Human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304 cells) were incubated with Huangqi injection. Cell viabilities were determined by MTT. The cell morphology was observed by phase-contrast microscope. RESULTS Huangqi injection had a dose-dependent proliferation effect on ECV304 cell. The proliferation rates were 3.10 % at the Huangqi concentration of 3.125 mg ·ml -1, 12.10 % at the concentration of 12.5 mg ·ml -1 (P0.05), and 48.31% at the concentration of 50 mg ·ml -1 (P0.01). No cytotoxic or growth inhibitory effect of Huangqi was observed on human vascular endothelial cell. CONCLUSION Huangqi could stimulate proliferation of human vascular endothelial cell.