Effect of Xiaoxianxiong decoction on plaque area and NF-κB expression in aorta of atherosclerotic rats

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Xiaoxianxiong decoction on plaque area and NF-κB expression in aorta of atherosclerotic rats.METHODS 60 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,atherosclerosis model group,low(2.1 g·kg-1),medium(4.2 g·kg-1)and high(8.4 g·kg-1)dose of Xiaoxianxiong decoction group,and atorvastatin group(0.005 g·kg-1).The control group was fed with normal diet,the rest of the groups were fed with high fat diet and injected VD360 million IU·kg-1 in the abdomen by once.At the third week,each treatment group began to give the drugs by gavage,simultaneously the control and the model group were fed with volume of normal saline,12 weeks in total.12h after the last administration,all rats were sacrificed,measured plaque area and NF-κB expression.RESULTS Compared with the model group,NF-κB expression in low(2.1 g·kg-1),medium(4.2 g·kg-1)and high(8.4 g·kg-1)dose of Xiaoxianxiong decoction group was lower(P0.05),plaque area in medium(4.2 g·kg-1)and high(8.4 g·kg-1)dose of Xiaoxianxiong decoction group was significantly reduced(P0.01 or P0.05),while there was no obvious change in low-dose(2.1 g·kg-1)group(P 0.05).CONCLUSION Xiaoxianxiong decoction,to some extent,can reduce NF-κB expression,inhibiting the plaque formation. This may be one of the mechanisms of anti-AS action of Xiaoxianxiong decoction.