Objective: To explore the effects of Yixin Jiedu Formula (YXJDF), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on hemodynamic and B-type natriuretic (BNP) in a rat model of heart failure with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Moreover, its therapeutic effects in improving the symptoms were also studied.
Methods: The model of heart failure was established by ligation of left coronary artery in rats. Rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model group, YXJDF group and positive control (sodium fosinopril tablet) group. On the second day after the operation, rats in different groups received different treatments. Rats in the YXJDF group were treated with YXJDF (9.33g/kg); rats in the positive control group received solution of sodium fosinopril tablet (1.2mg/kg) and rats in the model and the control groups were given an equal volume of saline, respectively. Drugs were delivered by intragastric administration for 28d. Symptoms such as respiratory rate and red-green-blue value of color of the plantar skin were also collected. Then hemodynamic indexes were evaluated and the levels of plasma BNP were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all groups.
Results: After 28d, rats in the YXJDF group and the positive control group were more active than rats in the model group. Both YXJDF and sodium fosinopril tablet significantly improved the purple degree of the plantar skin and the respiratory rate. Compared with rats in the sham-operated group, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the model group decreased significantly (P<0.05); rats in the YXJDF group and the positive control group showed significant improvement on SBP, DBP and MAP (P<0.05). In ventricular hemodynamic, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximal rate of left ventricular systolic pressure (LV+dP/dt(max)) and maximal rate of left ventricular diastolic blood pressure (LV-dP/dt(max)) of the model group were significantly down-regulated when compared with the sham-operated group (P<0.05); YXJDF and sodium fosinopril tablet increased the LVSP, LV+dP/dt(max) and LV-dP/dt(max) (P<0.05), and thus improved ventricular hemodynamic in rats with heart failure. ELISA results showed that plasma BNP level of the model group was higher than that of the sham-operated group (P<0.05); YXJDF and sodium fosinopril tablet down-regulated the plasma BNP level significantly (P<0.05) compared with the model group.
Conclusion: YXJDF can strengthen left ventricular contractile force, increase LVSP, LV+dP/dt(max) and LV-dP/dtmax, SBP and SDP, and MAP, and improve hemodynamic indicators in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction. YXJDF can also relieve the symptoms of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.