The effect of radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Composita on peroxidation of low density lipoprotein due to copper dichloride.

It is well known that plasma lipoprotein, particularly oxidized LDL, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic diseases. We used oxidized LDL generated by incubating LDL from healthy persons with copper dichloride as a model to investigate the antioxidate property of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Composita (RSMC). On photos, the spot X1 and the spot X2 were clearly found in the control group after the dialysis into copper dichloride for 24 and 48 hours, but they could not found in the RSMC group. The analysis of the constituents of lipids in LDL (by charring method) showed that after dialysis the percentages of the spot X1 and the spot X2 in the RSMC group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that RSMC plays a potential role in antioxidation of lipids or LDL.