Effect of combination of active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza on vascular inflammation in spontaneously hypertensive rat

Abstract

This study explored the effect of combination of active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on vascular inflammation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs were treated with optimal compatibility of SM active ingredients (SABP), SM lyophilized powder (SMLP), and Perindopril (PD), followed by analysis of arterial histology by HE staining, blood pressure, inflammatory factors and MCP-1 by ELISA, cell migration by Transwell assay, MCP-1 and CCR2 level by Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Compared to normal group, arterial wall of rats in model group was significantly thickened with rough intima, without obvious divisions. Some blood vessels were enlarged at the 6th and 8th week, and arterial vessel wall of the SMLP and PD groups was thinned. SABP treatment significantly alleviated vascular inflammation, where blood vessels basically returned to normal at 6th week. The blood pressure of rats in the 1st, 6th and 12th weeks decreased, especially in SABP group (P <0.05). Nevertheless, blood pressure of rats in model group kept rising while levels of various inflammatory factors increased and decreased in the three experimental groups, with SABP group having the lowest levels. SABP, PD, and SMLP treatments significantly upregulated MCP-1 and CCR2 when decreasing the mRNA expressions, with more significant changes in the SABP group. The SAMP exhibited obvious antihypertensive effect with highest compatibility activity of combining SM’s active ingredients, reducing inflammatory factors and MCP-1 in the rats, thereby improving vascular inflammatory response.