title: Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and Puerariae Lobatae Radix herbal formula mediates anti-atherosclerosis by modulating key atherogenic events both in vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Danshen) and Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen) are principal herbs have long been used in combination for treating cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Danshen and Gegen in the ratio of 7:3 (DGW) have significantly reduced the carotid intimal-media thickening (IMT) in patients in our previous clinical study. In the present study, we have demonstrated the mechanisms on IMT reduction by investigating its key processes on both vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) and endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-proliferative effects of DGW on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced vSMC proliferation were studied by cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, p-ERK and cyclin D expression level. The anti-migratory effect of DGW was investigated by using transwell apparatus. For human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC), the inhibitory effects of DGW on TNF-alpha induced cell adhesion, cell adhesion molecules expression, MCP-1 and IL-6 production were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DGW significantly inhibited A7r5 proliferation and exhibited G1/S cell cycle arrest by suppressing both p-ERK and cyclin D expression. Moreover, DGW showed anti-migratory effect against PDGF-induced A7r5 migration. In addition, DGW inhibited the cell adhesion as well as the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, the production of MCP-1 but not IL-6 in TNF-α stimulated HUVECs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provided strong scientific evidence on IMT reduction in patients by modulating the key atherogenic events in both vSMC and endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Koon
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D056741:Cyclin D / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots; D029908:Pueraria; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D056741:Cyclin D; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases