Abstract:Objective: To investigate the effects of Danshen on number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)of patients with Hypercholesterolemia. Method: 24 patients with Hypercholesterolemia were randomLy divided into 2 groups: control group (n=12), and treatment group (n=12, receiving Composite Denshen Pilulae, 10# tid for 2 weeks). after 2 weeks, 20 mL peripheral blood was obtained from each patient, Mononuclear fraction of human peripheral blood was obtained by density gradient centrifugation, plated on fibronectin coated culture dishes. The cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry and tested the ability to intake ac-LDL. Cell clusters were viewed with an inverted microscope, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of PE-CD34 and FITC-AC133 was performed to detect number of EPCs, EPC proliferation and migration were assayed with MTT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay. EPCs adhesion ability assay was performed by replating cells on fibronectin-coated dishes, and then counting adherent cells. Result: Numbers of EPCs (103 cells per 1 mL peripheral blood) of treatment group was higher than control group (7.20±1.29 vs 6.88±1.00). Compared with group control, numbers of clusters (per 40 power microscopic field), adhesive EPCs (per 400 power microscopic field) and migratory EPCs (per 200 power microscopic field) of treatment group were significantly increased (4.47±0.94 vs 3.38±0.57, P<0.01, 11.81±2.29 vs 10.03±1.32, P<0.05 and 15.75±2.27 vs 11.95±1.28, P<0.01, respectively), while OD vallue of treatment group were significantly increased too(0.27±0.04 vs 0.20±0.03, P<0.01). Conclution: Danshen can significantly enhance EPCs functional activity of patients with Hypercholesterolemia.