AIM: The instability of
atherosclerotic plaque was the critical factor inducing heart events, and effective remedies for
this are deficient at present. Rabbit
atherosclerotic models were set up to study the effects of total saponin of Panax notoginseng (PNS) on stability of atherosclerotic plaques, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix
metalloproteinase-2 in plaques were detected by immunohistochemistry, which provided evidence for searching effective drug for amending stability of atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS: Rabbit atherosclerotic models were set up by hypercholestermia diet. Total areas of endomembrane and plaque, thickness of endomembrane and tunica media, contents of lipid were all measured by Image Pro Plus 4.5. Contents of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in plaque were detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In PNS group, area of plaque was smaller, endomembrane and fibrous cap were thinner compared with the control group. Contents of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and lipid found in PNS group decreased, but thickness of fibrous cap increased. CONCLUSION: PNS could enhance stability of atherosclerotic plaque by downregulating expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in plaques.