Background: Bao-Xin-Tang (BXT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula used for the treatment of coronary heart disease and known to have favorable therapeutic benefits. The current study was designed to determine whether BXT has a cardioprotective role for acute myocardial infarction. The underlying mechanisms were also explored.
Materials and methods: The Sprague-Dawley rat model of acute myocardial infarction was established by occluding the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. After a 3-h ischemic period, we determined the myocardial infarction size, inflammatory components, and antioxidant activities.
Results: The data showed that BXT could reduce the infarction size and lower the levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase, and increase the activities of superoxide dismutase and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10. These results indicate that administration of BXT, following acute myocardial infarction, could reduce infarct size.
Conclusion: The effects of BXT may be related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Keywords: Bao-Xin-Tang; anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidative; cardioprotective; infarction size.