Objective: To study the protective effect and mechanisms of Sini Tang (SNT) and its components compatibility on chronic heart failure (CHF) induced by doxorubicin in rats. Method: The CHF rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (ADR

2.5 mg·kg-1) once a week for 6 weeks. The successful model rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:the model group

the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group (ALRP

1.5 g·kg-1)

the ALRP-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group (ALRP-GRR

3 g·kg-1)

the ALRP-Zingiberis Rhizoma group (ALRP-ZR

2.5 g·kg-1)

the SNT group (4 g·kg-1) and the captopril group (6.25 mg·kg-1). Meanwhile

another 10 normal rats were assigned to the normal group. The rats in the treatment groups receive the corresponding medicines by intragastric administration for 4 weeks and the rats in the normal and the model group received the same volume of distilled water. After the last administration

left ventricular weight index (LVWI) and heart weight index (HWI) were measured. The pathological changes in myocardial muscle of rats were observed using HE staining. B-type natriretic peptide (BNP)

angiotensin Ⅱ (angⅡ) and aldosterone (ALD) were assayed by ELISA. Result: Compared with the normal group

the LVWI and HWI increased obviously (P<0.05)

the BNP

AngⅡ and ALD levels were significantly higher (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group

HWI was reduced in the SNT group (P<0.05)

the BNP

AngⅡ and ALD level were lower in all treatment groups (P<0.05). Furthermore

the results of SNT were better than ALRP in reducing the level of BNP and ALD in serum. Conclusion: SNT and its components compatibility have protective effect on CHF induced by ADR in rats. The mechanism may be related to attenuating cardiac remodeling and inhibiting the excessive activation of neuroendocrine factor. SNT has obvious effect of anti-heart failure. ALRP-ZR group could partly improve the cardiac function of CHF. ALRP-GRR group has superior cardiotonic effect to the application of ALRP alone.