Influence of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on lipid and ICAM-1 expression in rats with atherosclerosis

AIM: To study the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on rat atherosclerosis (AS), and elucidate the possible mechanism. METHODS: Wistar rats were fed with fat-rich diet and high dose of vitamin D₃ to induce AS, then treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were measured by automatic serum biochemical assay. The level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the AS model group, the levels of TG and TC in serum were significantly lower in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group (P<0.05). Western blot and RT-PCR showed that the level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were decreased in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group compared with AS group. CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza injection decreased blood lipid and reduced the ICAM-1 gene expression in rats with atherosclerosis.