Erxian decoction at 7.5 g/kg reduced blood pressure, decreased serum TMAO and inflammatory markers, improved serum estradiol levels, cardiac diastolic function, and myocardial morphology in ovariectomized rats compared to untreated OVX controls (p < 0.05).
Does Erxian decoction ameliorate myocardial damage in ovariectomized rats?
Erxian decoction ameliorates myocardial damage in ovariectomized rats by modulating gut microbiota and suppressing the TMAO-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.
Effect estimate: SBP and DBP reduced significantly with EXD compared to OVX; e.g., blood pressure lowered from OVX levels (SBP not numerically specified)
Absolute Event Rate: 61% vs 75%
p-value: p=<0.05
Menopausal women face an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and exploring effective therapeutic strategies from traditional Chinese medicine is of great clinical significance. Erxian decoction (EXD), a classic formula for alleviating menopausal symptoms, has potential cardiovascular protective effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the effects of EXD on gut microbiota, TMAO levels, and inflammatory levels were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-established model of menopausal CVDs. EXD elevated serum E2 levels and improved both the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions in OVX rats. EXD decreased Firmicutes and Ruminococcaceae, increased Bacteroidota, Muribaculaceae and Escherichia-Shigella. EXD significantly decreased serum levels of TMAO and its precursor metabolites. Additionally, it attenuated myocardial expression of ROS, TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase 1, IL-18, and IL-1β. EXD could reduce the levels of SBP and DBP, and reduce the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C. Spearman correlation analysis revealed positive associations between TMAO and blood pressure, as well as inflammatory factors and dyslipidemia. Collectively, EXD may ameliorate myocardial damage in OVX rats through modulation of the gut microbiota and suppression of the TMAO-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, demonstrating its potential therapeutic implications for cardiovascular disorders.
Hu et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in Ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats model of menopausal cardiovascular disease (n=30). Erxian decoction (EXD) vs. Sham surgery with vehicle, OVX with vehicle, and estradiol valerate 0.18 mg/kg was evaluated on Myocardial damage and cardiac function assessed by echocardiography, blood pressure, serum estradiol (E2), inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18), serum lipids, gut microbiota composition, TMAO and related metabolite levels, ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation in myocardium (SBP and DBP reduced significantly with EXD compared to OVX; e.g., blood pressure lowered from OVX levels (SBP not numerically specified), p=<0.05). Erxian decoction at 7.5 g/kg reduced blood pressure, decreased serum TMAO and inflammatory markers, improved serum estradiol levels, cardiac diastolic function, and myocardial morphology in ovariectomized rats compared to untreated OVX controls (p < 0.05).