Objective:To investigate the effect of Icariin（ICA） on intimal proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell after vascular injury in rat.Method: Fourty-four rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: natural group

model group and ICA 60

120 mg.kg-1 group.Rat model of carotid restenosis induced by balloon injury was established.Rats of ICA group were treated with drugs for 2 or 4 weeks.Then the neointimal area（IA）

medial area（MA）

and neointimal area（IA） /medial area（MA） were analyzed by computerized digitizer system.TUNEL method was used to detected the apoptosis in the artery.Result :At each time point

the lumem area was larger and the neointima area was smaller in all the treated groups compared with that in model group（P < 0.01）.The expression of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in the vascular in all the treated groups was increased

that of the model group（2 w

4 w） being the lowest（P < 0.01）.Conclusion: ICA can effectively repress neointimal proliferation after vascular injury

The effect may be associated with its action of promoting apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.