Orengedokuto inhibits neointimal formation, proliferation and migration of rat vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Orengedokuto (OGT), a traditional Chinese formulation containing four crude drugs (Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus), has been used for various conditions accompanied with atherosclerotic-related disorders. Oral administration of OGT for 3 days before and 7 days after balloon injury resulted in a dose-dependent attenuation of neointimal formation and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation in balloon-injured carotid arteries in cholesterol-fed rats. Furthermore, the serum collected from cholesterol-fed rats orally treated with OGT significantly reduced the migration of cultured VSMC. Thus, OGT may attenuate carotid artery neointimal formation following balloon endothelial denudation via inhibition of VSMC proliferation and migration. The inhibitory effects of OGT on neointimal formation were mediated primarily by Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma composed of OGT. The present results suggest that OGT may be promising candidates as preventive agents for atherosclerosis in humans.