Objective: To investigate the effect of drug serum by Chinese herbal compound prescription in Buyang Huanwu Tang(BHT)

Xuefu Zhuyu Tang(XZT) and Sijunzi Tang(ST)on the expression of Toll-like receptor-4(TLR4) and main components of downstream signal transduction pathways

and to study their possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanism. Method: New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups in random:normal group

BHT group

XZT group

and ST group

with 5 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in normal group were given gastric perfusion of 20 mL normal saline

rabbits in three Chinese herbal compound groups respectively received gastric perfusion of 20 mL BHT(6.7 g·kg-1)

XZT(3.6 g·kg-1) and ST(1.6 g·kg-1)

for 7 continuous days. Blood was drawn from rabbit's heart 2 h after the last gastric perfusion

and then the drug serum was prepared after centrifugation. Vascular endothelial cells were randomly divided into 6 groups:blank group

model group

Atorvastatin group(10μmol·L-1)

BHT group

XZT group and ST group. After stimulation with LPS(1 mg·L-1) for 2 h

drug serum containing 10% control western medicine and drug serum containing Chinese herbal compound were added separately for intervention. Cells were collected after 24 hours. The gene expression of TLR4

myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)

tumor necrosis factor-associated factor 6(TRAF-6) and nuclear factor-κ B(NF-κ B) were measured with RT-qPCR. Western blotting method was used to analyze the expression of TLR4 and NF-κ B protein. Result: expressions of TLR4

MyD88

TRAF-6 and NF-κ B in model group were increased significantly after LPS stimulation

with statistical difference compared with blank group(P<0.01). Intervention by BHT and XZD could significantly decrease the expression of TLR4

MyD88

TRAF-6 and NF-κ B

with statistical difference compared with model group(P<0.05). However

ST group had no significant changes in various indicators

with no statistical difference compared with model group. Conclusion: BHT and XZD can inhibit the expression of TLR4 and main components of downstream signal transduction pathways

which may be one of its action mechanisms for anti-atherosclerosis.