Objective: To study the protective effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on hydrogen peroxide-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Method: Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered with 10 mL x kg(-1) extracts from Taohong Siwu Tang (1.75 g crude drug), twice a day for three days, in order to prepare medicated serum of Taohong Siwu Tang. The effect of medicated serum pre-treated with Taohong Siwu Tang (with concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%) on reduction of H2O2-induced cell activity was detected MTT. Cell morphological changes were observed under microscope. The effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on the apoptosis and antioxidant capacity of HUVECs was detected with the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and dehydrogenase (LDH), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and AO/EB staining. The expression of Caspase-3 was determined by western blot.
Result: Compared with the blank serum control group, cell were significantly less active after being damaged by H2O2 (400 micromol x L(-1)). Medicated serum could significantly improve the SOD activity, reduce the levels of LDH and MDA, and inhibite the expression of Caspase-3. AO/EB staining and inverted microscope also showed that medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang could reduce cell apoptosis induced by H2O2.
Conclusion: Medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang has significant protective effect on HUVECs injured by H2O2.