Objective: To determine the protective effects of Maikang tablets on blood vessel in the experimental hyperlipidemic rats. Method: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to their baseline total cholesterol (TC) level

including the control group

the hyperlipidemia model group

the low-middle-and high-dose Maikang tablets groups (0.47

0.94

1.88 g · kg-1). The rats in the control group were fed with basal diet

the rats in the hyperlipidemia model and Maikang tablets groups were fed with high-fat diet

and the rats in Maikang tablets groups added Maikang tablets. All rats were intragastrically administrated of the corresponding medicines for 30 days. The level of blood lipid and the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA)

nitric oxide (NO)

endothelin (ET) -1

calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP)

prostacyclin (PGI2)

endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) were determined and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)

superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the rats were tested. Result: Compared with the normal group

the body weight of rats in the model group had little change. The contents of hyperlipidemia TC

triglyceride(TG)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

MDA

ET-1

CGRP

PGI2

EDHF

NO increased obviously (P<0.05

P<0.01)

the activity of NOS increased significantly (P<0.01)

the content of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the activity of SOD decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the hyperlipidemia modle group. Maikang tablets also had no effect on body weight

while it could improve the above indicators significantly (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Maikang tablets have good effects on blood vessel protection and vascular repair function in rats with hyperlipidemia.