Objective: To clarify effect and possible mechanism of Yixin Jiedu formula (YXJDF) on the heart failure after infarction induced by Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Method: The heart failure model after myocardial infarction was prepared by left coronary artery ligation.Drugs were given by continuous intragastric administration for 28 d. Then cardiac function of each group was evaluated by echocardiography

plasma angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) and aldosterone (ALD) levels were also examined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in all groups. The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in serum was detected by immunoturbidimetric assay. Result: Compared with the sham group

the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVEDs) of model group increased significantly (P<0.05)

ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) decreased significantly (P<0.05). After given the high-dose and middle-dose of YXJDF and the fosinopril sodium

the two drugs could improve EF and FS

further to improve the cardiac function. Moreover

YXJDF could effectively shorten the LVEDd and LVEDs

and fosinopril sodium did not work. RIA results showed that AngⅡof model group in plasma was significantly higher than sham group; the high-dose and middle-dose of YXJDF and fosinopril sodium could down-regulate the plasma AngⅡ by 16.58%

15.58%

12.79% (P<0.05) respectively. And the experimental results of immunoturbidimetric assay showed that YXJDF could reduce high levels of hs-CRP in serum and inhibit inflammatory response. Conclusion: YXJDF can shorten the LVEDd and LVEDs

and thus slow down the process of cardiac remodeling and strength the cardiac function. The mechanism may be that it can decrease plasma AngⅡlevels and reduce RAAS activity thus to improve cardiac afterload in heart failure rats and suppress the inflammatory response.