The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Pueraria lobata (Gegen) inhibit atherogenic events: A study of the combination effects of the 2-herb formula

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Pueraria lobata (Gegen) are principle herbs of Chinese herbal formulae which have long been used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Aim of study: The present study validated the anti-atherogenic effects of three extracts, Danshen alone (DE), Gegen alone (GE) as well as DGE and interpreted their combination effects statistically. Materials and methods: The anti-atherogenic effects of the three extracts were studied in three assays with regards to inflammation, foam cell formation and vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) proliferation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production model, macrophage foam cell formation model and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced vSMC proliferation model, respectively. The combination effects of DGE were statistically analyzed using combination index (Cl) and fixed-ratio experimental design. Results: The anti-atherogenic effects of the three extracts including anti-inflammation, anti-foam cell formation and anti-vSMC proliferation were demonstrated in this study. Their combination effects in anti-inflammation, anti-foam cell formation and anti-vSMC proliferation were found to be synergistic, additive and antagonistic, respectively. Conclusions: This study provided scientific support for the combination use of DGE on atherosclerosis and presented one of the first applications of statistical interpretations of the combination effects of the 2-herb formula. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.