Objective: To investigate the mechanism of protection action of 5 kinds of ethanol-extractions of traditional Chinese medicine (Camellia sinensis

Carthamus tinctorius; Scutellaria baicalensis; Hypericum perforatum; Oroxylum indicum) on cardiac microvascular endothelial cells damaged by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Methed: The protection of 5 kinds of ethanol-extractions from traditional Chinese medicine and VitE were investigated after ox-LDL (100 mg·L-1) induced injury on the third generation of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.Cell morphology before and after damaged by ox-LDL was observed under the inverted microscope after joining the different concentration of the above ethanol-extractions. Cellular viability was determined by MTT method. The supernatant was collected for detecting malondialdehyde (MDA)

superoxide dismutase (SOD)

glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Result: Five kinds of ethanol-extractions from traditional Chinese medicine increased the endothelial cells survival rate

reduced MDA contents and improved SOD

GSH-Px activity. Conclusion: The above ethanol-extractions of traditional Chinese medicine showed obvious anti-oxidative effect on cardiac microvascular endothelial cells damaged by ox-LDL. The anti-oxidative effect may be related to enhancing endogenous antioxidant activity and inhibiting cellular lipid peroxidation.