title: Effect of Chinese herbal medicine on vascular functions during 60-day head-down bed rest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chinese herbal medicine is a promising countermeasure against cardiovascular dysfunction associated with a sedentary lifestyle. We examined the impact of the Chinese herb, Taikong Yangxin, on the micro- and macrovascular dysfunction associated with a 60-day bed rest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy men were randomly divided into two groups: those given herbal supplement, and the control group; the two groups underwent a 60-day bed rest. The macrovasculature was assessed by sonography. Skin microvascular functions were assessed with laser Doppler. The plasma level of endothelial microparticles (EMPs), markers of endothelial injury, was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bed rest induced a 33 % decrease in the femoral artery diameter and compliance whereas carotid wall thickness, diameter, and compliance remained unchanged. The early phase of endothelium-dependent vasodilation to ACh was unmodified by bed rest, while the late phase was reduced by 30 % along with a twofold increase in EMPs. In those given Taikong Yangxin, the early phase was amplified by 2.5-fold, and the effects of bed rest on the late phase were prevented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that Taikong Yangxin ameliorates endothelium-dependent vasodilation, likely by improving the NO pathway. The study suggests Taikong Yangxin as a new countermeasure to prevent the changes in microvascular function induced by physical inactivity.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Asmaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alameddine
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coupé
authors.forename: Nastassia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Navasiolava
authors.forename: Yongzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guillemette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gauquelin-Koch
authors.forename: Yanqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Shizhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Marc-Antoine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Custaud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal