Objective: To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) on arterial blood platelet factor (PAF) content in pre- and post-arterial thrombosis of rats.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups, the BHD group treated with BHD 32 g/kg, or with BHD 16 g/kg daily for 14 days consecutively, the control group treated with dexamethasone 0.5-1 mg/kg and the blank group treated with distilled water 10 ml/kg. Arterial thrombosis was duplicated in the animals 2 hours after final medication, the blood content of PAF (by bioassay), dry weight (W) and occlusion time (OT) of thrombus, and weight of thrombus/body weight (TW/BW) ratio were observed.
Results: Consecutive BHD treatment could markedly lower the arterial blood content of PAF after thrombosis, increase the OT value of thrombus, reduce the dry weight of thrombus and the TW/BW ratio (P < 0.05), while no influence was found in rats treated with BHD once.
Conclusions: BHD has certain antagonistic effect on pathologic PAF metabolism, and inhibitory effect on pathogenesis and development of arterial thrombosis.