Objective: To study the effect of andrographolide on aortic micro-inflammation

atheromatous plaque formation and aortic pathology in atherosclerosis rabbit. Method: Thirty six SPF Newzealand rabbits were divided into normal group

model group

fenofibrate group(25.67 mg·kg-1)

and high

medium and low dose of andrographolide group (93.34

46.67

23.33 mg·kg-1). Except for the normal control group

the rest animals were used to establish atherosclerosis model with bovine serum albumin and high-fat diet for 12 weeks. After the modeling

the rabbits were treated with andrographolide for 4 weeks. Result: Compared with normal group

the level of total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride(TG)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)

the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)

monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) of the model group were obviously increased

the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was reduced

the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).Compared with model group

the ratio of Interferon γ/Interleukin 4 (IFN-γ/IL-4)

the level of TC

TG

LDL-C

IL-1β and hs-CRP

the expression of VCAM-1

MCP-1 and PDGF mRNA of the andrographolide group were obviously reduced

the level of HDL-C was increaed

the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). Conclusion: Andrographolide could inhibit the inflammation process

and delay the development of atherosclerosis.