Objective: To investigate the influence and possible mechanism of Maixuekang capsule on lipid metabolism and expression of lectin like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1) in early atherosclerosis rats. Method: Thirty-two healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group

model control group

high and low dose groups(1.5

0.3 g·kg-1·d-1) of Maixuekang capsule. Model control group and Maixuekang capsule groups were intraperitoneally injected by 6×105 unit vitamin D3

and corresponding medicines were ig administrated every day on the basis of high-fat diet for 10 successive weeks. Levels of blood lipid profile

homocysteine(HCY)

catalase(CAT) were observed. The expression of oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) in serum and LOX-1 in aortic wall were detected by ELISA. The pathology of thoracic aortas were observed. Result: In model control

the levels of TC

TG

LDL-C

HCY were increased than normal control (P<0.05 or P<0.01)

HDL-C and CAT were decreased(P<0.01). The expression of ox-LDL and LOX-1 was significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in model control(34.17±13.4)

(1.58±0.08) μg·L-1than the normal control(20.37± 2.5)

(1.44±0.08)μg·L-1. Maixuekang capsule decreased the levels of TC

TG

LDL-C

HCY and increased the levels of HDL-C and CAT (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the expression of ox-LDL(28.92±4.5)

(21.81±3.9) μg·L-1and LOX-1(1.45±0.07)

(1.39±0.09)μg·L-1 was attenuated in all the treatment groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In model control

intima-media thickness

elastic fiber proliferation and disordered arrangement of smooth muscle cells were found in thoracic aortas by paraffin section and Hematoxylin staining.By contrast

intima-media thickness were not obvious

elastic fiber was mild wided and arrangement of smooth muscle cells in Maixuekang capsule group. Conclusion: The Maixuekang capsule can protect vascular endothelial cell and inhibit atherosclerosis by modulating the lipid metabolism

reducing the oxidative damage

and down-regulating the expression of ox-LDL and LOX-1.