Objective: To investigate the regulation of Shugan Huoxue recipe on hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)

hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)

vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in muscle after limb ischemia. Method: Forty-eight BALB/c nude mice

were randomly divided into Shugan Huoxue recipe group

blank control group and normal group. Nude mice limb ischemia model was established by femoral artery ligation method. Nude mice limb ischemic changes were observed at Week 1st

2nd

3rd and 4th after limb ischemia respectively. Hematoxylin-Eosine (HE) staining and CD34 immunohistochemical staining was used to observe ischemic morphological changes in muscle tissue. Dynamic changes of gene expression of HIF-1α

HGF

VEGF were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in ischemic muscle. Result: Compared with the blank control group

Shugan Huoxue recipe could improve the state of ischemia in the limb of nude mice. In 2-4 weeks after ischemia

the microvascular count (MVC) in the ischemic limb muscle of nude mice in Shugan Huoxue recipe group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of HIF-1α

HGF

VEGF in the ischemic limb muscle of nude mice in Shugan Huoxue recipe group were upregulated compared with those in blank control group. Conclusion: Shugan Huoxue recipe could increase HIF-1α

HGF and VEGF mRNA expression and promote angiogenesis.