Objective: To study the changes of reactive oxygen species(ROS), and the effect of Tongmai Tang on ROS.
Methods: Forty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: a normal control group,a model group, a low dosage Tongmai Tang, and a high dosage Tongmai Tang administration group (n=10).The normal control group was fed with common food twice daily. The model group was fed with high cholesterol diet. The low dosage Tongmai Tang administration group was fed with high cholesterol diet as in the model group, together with Tongmai Tang at a lower dosage. The high dosage Tongmai Tang administration group was fed with high cholesterol diet as in the model group, together with Tongmai Tang at a higher dosage. After 16 weeks, the concentration of serum malondialdehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD), and serum lipid were detected.
Results: In the model group, the concentration of serum SOD was significantly lower, while levels of serum MDA,CHO, and LDL were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.01). In the low dosage Tongmai Tang administration group, the concentration of serum CHO and LDL significantly decreased (P<0.05). In the high dosage Tongmai Tang administration group, the concentration of serum SOD significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas the level of serum MDA, CHO and LDL significantly decreased (P<0.01). MDA was positively correlated with serum CHO, LDL (r= 0.397 and 0.443, P<0.05), and SOD was negatively correlated with serum CHO, LDL(r= -0.407 and -0.429, P<0.01).
Conclusion: Tongmai Tang can decrease the concentration of serum CHO and LDL, and increase the level of SOD. Tongmai Tang may have antioxidation in atherosclerosis.