Objective: To observe protective effect of Gugutou Huaisiyu capsule containing serum on apoptosis in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs). Method: The BMSCs were separated

filtrated

cultured

and high

medium and low dose Gugutou Huaisiyu capsule containing serum had harvested from mice under 0.36

0.72

1.44 g·kg-1 Gugutou Huaisiyu capsule gavaged

the third generation BMSCs were chose and divided into blank group (no rat serum in culture medium)

normal group (with volume fraction of 20% normal rat serum in culture medium)

induction apoptosis group (with volume fraction of 20% normal rat serum and all-trans retinoic acid in culture medium) and traditional Chinese medicine serum low

medium and high dose group (with volume fraction of 20% Gugutou Huaisiyu capsule containing serum of low

medium and high dose respectively

and all-trans retinoic acid in culture medium)

a total of six groups.Then cell relative survival rate and cell cycle were detected by MTT method and flow cytometry

respectively. Result: Compared with normal group

the cell relative survival rate of induction apoptosis group

traditional Chinese medicine containing serum low

medium and high dose groups was increased

and G1 phase increased

G2 and S phase proportion

the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Compared to the induction apoptosis group

the cell relative survival rate in traditional Chinese medicine containing serum low

medium and high dose groups was declined

while the G1 phase ratio decreases

G2 and S phase proportion increase

and the difference increased obviously as the dosage increased

the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: Gugutou Huaisiyu capsule containing serum could improve the survival rate of rat BMSCs

and have protective effect on apoptosis induced by all-trans retinoic acid.