Abstract
VSMC proliferation and ECM deposition always resulted in intimal hyperplasia. Astragalus-Angelica combination has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. The inhibition effect of different Astragalus-Angelica combination on the hyperplastic intima after vascular balloon injury in rats was investigated in this study. Astragalus-Angelica combination can inhibit the intima hyperplasia after balloon injury, in which a 1:1 ratio shows excellent results. Astragalus-Angelica combination can enhance the expression of smooth muscle α-actin (SMа-actin) and inhibit the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1, cyclin E, collagen I (Col-I), fibronectin (FN), and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) in hyperplastic intima, suggesting that Astragalus-Angelica combination can inhibit the intimal hyperplasia of blood vessels in rats. The mechanism is related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation and thereby inhibits the phenotypic transformation and cell proliferation of VSMCs and thus inhibits the extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition of vascular wall during intimal hyperplasia.