Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shuxue Tongmai capsule-containing serum on apoptosis in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Method:BMSCs were cultured with different concentrations of H2O2 in vitro to induce apoptosis

and then 1.0 mmol·L-1 optimum concentration was used for the experiment. First

Shuxue Tongmai capsule-containing serum were prepared at low (1.81 g·kg-1)

middle (3.62 g·kg-1) and high (7.24 g·kg-1) doses. Then the third-generation BMSCs were divided into 5 groups in random. The first group was control group

which only added with normal rat serum with a volume fraction of 15% in culture medium. The second group was model group

which was added with normal rat serum with a volume fraction of 15% in culture medium and the apoptosis cells were induced with H2O2.The other three groups were drug-contained serum groups

which were respectively prepared at low (0.32 g·kg-1)

middle (0.64 g·kg-1) and high (1.28 g·kg-1) doses

and added with drug-contained serum with a volume fraction of 15%

and the apoptosis cells were induced with H2O2 in each group. After 24 hours

the cells' relative survival rate was detected by 3-(4

5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl) -2

5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method

and the apoptosis rate was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry method. And cysteine aspartate protease-3 (Caspase-3) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) mRNA expressions were assayed by Real-time PCR (Real-time PCR). Result:H2O2 could imitate the ischemic anoxic environment in vitro and induce the apoptosis of BMSCs. The MTT detection results showed that the cells' survival rates of Shuxue Tongmai capsule-containing serum groups prepared at low

medium and high doses were significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01)

and the survival rate increased with the dose concentration (P<0.05). And the AnnexinV-FITC/PI flow cytometry results showed that the drug-containing serum of Shuxue Tongmai capsule could decrease the apoptosis rates of BMSCs induced with H2O2 (P<0.01). The Real-time PCR results showed that the induction with H2O2 could increase BMSCs' Caspase-3 mRNA expression and reduce their Bcl-2 mRNA expression. The treatment of Shuxue Tongmai capsule-containing serum could decrease Caspase-3 mRNA expression (P<0.01)

and increase Bcl-2 mRNA expression (P<0.01). Conclusion:Shuxue Tongmai capsule-containing serum can negatively regulate Caspase-3 gene by increasing Bcl-2 gene expression

so as to inhibit the apoptosis of BMSCs caused with H2O2.