Protection of Long-Term Treatment With Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang on Vascular Endothelium in Rats With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BackgroundHuang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is the classical traditional Chinese recipe for heat clearance and detoxification and is used in diabetic patients in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of long-term treatment with HLJDT on vascular endothelial function in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThe male T2DM model rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin plus a high-fat and high-calorie laboratory diet. The T2DM animals were randomly divided into the T2DM model group, the low-dose HLJDT group (0.42 g/kg/d), and the high-dose HLJDT group (1.25 g/kg/d).ResultsAdministration of HLJDT (0.42 or 1.25 g/kg/d) for 8 weeks decreased the levels of serum fasting blood glucose, malondialdehyde, and vascular tissue interleukin 6 but raised the level of serum superoxide dismutase compared with the T2DM model group in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, HLJDT treatment restored the impaired endothelial-dependent vascular relaxation in aortic preparations from the T2DM model group in a dose-dependent manner.ConclusionsEarly and long-term treatments with HLJDT could have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties and could protect vascular endothelium from the cardiovascular complications associated with T2DM.