Abstract: Objective To investigate effect of compound compatibility of processed Sanhuangxiexin decoction with activating blood and resolving stasis on atherosclerosis in rats. Methods The rat atherosclerosis model was established by a feeding of high-fat diet combined with injection of vitamin D₃ and ovalbumn. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, normal group, model group, model plus positive medicine group (simvastatin 0.01g·kg^-1 ) group, model plus compound compatibility groups at the dose of 1.00 g·kg^-1、0.50 g·kg^-1、0.25 g·kg^-1, respectively. After 8 weeks of modeling, the rats were administrated corresponding drugs for 4 weeks. At the end of 12 th week, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta to determine levels of following indicators: TC, TG, HDL, LDL, SOD, MDA, NO, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18. RIA was used to determine content of 6-keto-PGF_1α, ET, and TXB₂. Then, the aorta was harvested and HE staining was used to observe pathological changes of blood vessels. Results The compound compatibility of processed Sanhuangxiexin decoction can reduce the content of TC, TG and LDL levels with increased HDL content. Meanwhile, SOD activity was increased, and MDA was reduced. The depressed contents of CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18 were found. NO and 6-keto-PGF_1α contents were increased, and ET and TXB₂ were decreased. The pathological observation on the morphology and structure of vascular indicated that it could attenuate lipid deposition, cholesterol crystallization and calcification. Conclusion The compound compatibility of processed Sanhuangxiexin decoction may play an important role in the protection of AS rats, which may be related with regulating blood lipid levels, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory reaction, and improving endothelial functions.

Key words: Sanhuangxiexin decoction, atherosclerosis, inflammatory factors, compound compatibility