OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effect of assorted use of Chinese drugs for detoxifying and activating blood circulation on serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in apolipoprotein E gene knock-out [ApoE (-/-)] mice.

METHODSApoE (-/-) mice of 13-week old were devided into two groups, 12 in Group A fed with common forage and 98 in Group B with high lipid forage. Besides, 12 C57 BL/6J mice, 13-week old, were set as Group C fed with common forage. After being fed for 19 weeks, and the formation of vulnerable plaque had been confirmed in 2 mice of Group B, the other 96 mice were sub-divided into 8 groups, 12 in each group. Except that 0.4 mL normal saline was infused to the Group B1 as well as Group A and C, the other 7 sub-groups of Group B were respectively medicated with various drugs as follows: B2, Polydatin (PD, an extract from giant knotweed rhizome for detoxicating) 26. 6 mg/kg; B3, Xiongshao Capsule (XS, a Chinese herbal preparation for activating blood circulation), 110 mg/kg; B4, PD 53.2 mg/kg + XS 220 mg/kg; B5, PD 26. 6 mg/kg + XS 110 mg/kg; B6, PD 13.3 mg/kg + XS 55 mg/kg; B7, Lovastatin 3.3 mg/kg; and B8, Xuezhikang (XZK, a Chinese patent drug) 0.2 g/kg, all were administered by dissolving in 0.4 mL of distilled water for gastrogavage. The serum contents of hs-CRP were detected, with blood sample drawing from inferior vena cava, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 17 weeks after medication.

RESULTSThe hs-CRP level was significantly higher in Group B1 than in Groups A and C (P <0.05, P <0.01). Comparisons between various sub-groups of Group B in hs-CRP content showed that hs-CRP in Group B2, B4 and B7 was lower than that in B1 (P <0.01), hs-CRP in Group B4 was the lowest, and hs-CRP was lower in Group B2 than in Group B3.

CONCLUSIONAssorted use of Chinese drugs for detoxifying and activating blood circulation could reduce serum hs-CRP level in ApoE (-/-) mice.