Modified Taohong Siwu decoction improves cardiac function after myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion in rats by promoting endogenous stem cell mobilization and regulating metabolites.

Context: Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) has been shown to promote heart repair in myocardial infarction.

Objective: To determine the effects of modified THSWD (THSWD plus four ingredients) on myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Materials and methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the I/R group and three different modified THSWD dose groups (gavage administration, 1.215, 2.43, and 4.86 g, respectively). 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans blue staining were used to detect the infarct area at 24 h after treatment. The serum biochemical indexes and cell apoptosis were examined to determine myocardial injury. The number of endogenous stem cells, expression of stromal dell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and stem cell factor (SCF), and cardiac function were measured at 4 weeks. The serum was collected for metabolomic analysis.

Results: The high-dose modified THSWD group presented a reduced infarction area (decreased by 21.3%), decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine kinase, attenuated cell apoptosis, and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity in early stage I/R compared with other groups. The serum SCF and SDF-1 levels were higher in the high-dose group than in the I/R group. At 4 weeks, the infarct size and collagen content were the lowest, and the ejection fraction and fractional shortening values were the highest in the high-dose group. Moreover, high-dose modified THSWD affected the metabolism of phosphonate and phosphonate, taurine, and hypotaurine.

Conclusions: Endogenous stem cell mobilization and metabolic regulation were related to the cardioprotection of modified THSWD. We provided a new strategy and direction for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases with traditional Chinese medicine.