The antithrombotic effect of RSNK in blood-stasis model rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Reduction of Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction (RSNK), composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge., Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi., Paeonia lactiflora Pall. and Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen., is a modified traditional Chinese medicinal formula of Sheng-Nao-Kang pill preparation, which has been investigated its protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat in our previous report.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the antithrombotic effect of RSNK in blood stasis model rats and explore the potential mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subcutaneous injection of norepinephrine and bovine serum albumin combined with ice water bath was used to establish the acute blood stasis rat model. The anticoagulant activities were investigated by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), and the content of fibrinogen (FIB). Meanwhile, the levels of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), prostaglandins I2 (PGI2), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and endothelin (ET) were detected.

RESULTS: The treatment of RSNK was able to prolong APTT, TT and PT, and decrease FIB content obviously. Furthermore, it markedly suppressed TXB2 level and up-regulated 6-keto-PGF1α level of the blood-stasis model rats, accompanied with the decrease of T/K. The level of ET and TXA2 in plasma was down-regulated and the levels of eNOS in plasma and PGI2 in serum was up-regulated in RSNK-treated rats compared with model rats (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that RSNK possessed remarkable antithrombotic property in blood stasis model rats induced by ice water bath and subcutaneous injection of norepinephrine and bovine serum albumin. This property could be associated with its anticoagulation activity, the regulation of active substances in vascular endothelium and maintaining the balance of TXA2 and PGI2.