Dr. Li Yugui, a Ph.D. supervisor at Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Dr. Li Zhenbin, a senior physician at Bethune International Peace Hospital, led a research project funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province. The study focused on "Anti-endothelin Chinese medicine for experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury." Their findings revealed that cold-natured traditional Chinese medicines exhibit significant anti-ischemic effects at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. This discovery challenged the conventional use of Xinwen (warming) herbs for treating myocardial ischemia, broadening the understanding of ischemic heart disease pathogenesis. Additionally, the research highlighted that Hanliang (cold) herbs can counteract endothelin, further expanding the therapeutic potential of cold-natured TCM.
The study was recognized with the third prize in the Science and Technology Awards of the China Association of Chinese Medicine. Ischemic heart disease remains a major health concern, and endothelin plays a key role in the development of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Recent studies have shown that endothelin shares structural and functional similarities with snake venom, and anti-venom TCM can neutralize its harmful effects, such as vasoconstriction and cell death. Based on this, Li et al. proposed that traditional anti-venom TCM may act as an endothelin antagonist, offering new therapeutic possibilities for cardiovascular diseases like myocardial ischemia.
To test this hypothesis, Li Yugui and his team developed Qingxinyin Recipe, composed of cold-natured herbs such as motherwort and Andrographis paniculata. Through in vitro experiments, animal models, and preliminary clinical trials, they evaluated the protective effects of this formula against ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Experimental results showed that Qingxinyin Recipe significantly improved ischemic ECG changes induced by pituitrin, with a dose-dependent effect. It also reduced the release of CK and LDH in ischemic cardiomyocytes and increased SOD activity in rats. In models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, the drug reduced infarct size and lowered serum MDA levels. Furthermore, tetrandrine, a key component, inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and c-jun expression, showing strong anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties.
Clinically, the team observed 56 patients with asymptomatic myocardial ischemia (SMI). Both the treatment and control groups saw reductions in SMI episodes and ST-segment depression, but the Qingxinyin group showed more significant improvements. This indicated that the formula has superior anti-ischemic efficacy compared to standard treatments.
According to Li Yugui’s team, the anti-ischemic mechanism of Qingxinyin Recipe may involve not only anti-venom and anti-endothelin effects, but also anti-platelet aggregation, improvement of microcirculation, and reduction of blood viscosity. These findings suggest a multi-faceted approach to protecting the heart during ischemic events, opening new avenues for the application of traditional Chinese medicine in modern cardiology.
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