Experimental studies on prevention of atherosclerotic arterial stenosis and restenosis after angioplasty with Andrographis Paniculata Nees and fish oil.

In order to search for effective drugs to reduce restenosis incidence after coronary angioplasty, we studied the effects of a Chinese herb, extract of Andrographis Paniculata Nees (APN), and Fish Oil (FO) on atherosclerotic stenosis and restenosis after experimental angioplasty. Preliminary results showed that APN can significantly alleviate atherosclerotic iliac artery stenosis induced by both deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet (control group, stenosis incidence 100%, stenotic severe degree 60.53 +/- 31.03%, of which 30% arteries (6) are total occlusion; FO group: stenotic incidence and severe degree are 77% and 53.00 +/- 21.17%, respectively, and in APN group they are 70% and 25.39 +/- 10.52%, respectively, P < 0.01), and follow-up angiography 4 weeks after angioplasty showed that dilated iliac arteries in control group all had severe restenosis, but in APN group no or only mild restenosis occurs, and in FO group restenosis is as severe as stenotic degree prior to angioplasty. These preliminary results suggest that APN and FO can significantly alleviate stenosis induced by deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet and restenosis after angioplasty, while the former has a more marked effect. The above findings lead the authors to conclude that APN may play an important role in preventing restenosis after coronary angioplasty, but FO may be useful in reducing the extent of of restenosis after coronary angioplasty.