Bofutsushosan, a traditional Chinese formulation, prevents intimal thickening and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by balloon endothelial denudation in rats.
Bofutsushosan (BOF), a traditional Chinese formulation (Kampo formulation in Japanese), is widely used for patients with obesity and hyperlipidemia resulting from long-term inappropriate lifestyles. Since atherosclerosis, a lifestyle-related disease, is accompanied by an abnormal accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the intimal area of the artery, we investigated the preventive effect of BOF on intimal thickening. Oral administration of BOF extracts 3 d before and 7 d after balloon endothelial denudation dose dependently suppressed the intimal thickening and proliferation of VSMCs in the intimal area in rat carotid arteries. This model has a similar pathologic process to atherosclerosis and is considered to be an "accelerated atherosclerosis" model. BOF extract also dose dependently inhibited the migration of cultured VSMCs. BOF extract suppressed serum lipid levels, which are a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. These findings clarified the usefulness of BOF in cardiovascular risk-reduction therapy.
Ohno
Kenji
K
Department of Kampo-Pharmaceutics, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Chung
Hwa-Jin
HJ
Maruyama
Ikuro
I
Tani
Tadato
T
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002404:Catheterization; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; C098310:bofu-tsusho-san