EFFECT OF A CHINESE MEDICAL PREPARATION, HOKOEI-TO, ON LIPIDS IN BLOOD AND INVOLVEMENT OF CELLS OF VASCULAR ORIGIN

A significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and a t endency for total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol to decrease were found in parous rats given Hokoei-to orally for 25 da ys, resulting in improvement of the atherogenic index. In experiments using cells of vascular origin, significantly increased proliferation of endothelial cells and suppressed proliferation of smooth muscle cel ls were obtained in the presence of Hokoei-to. When the action of each component galenical of Hokoei-to was examined, all five components, i .e. Taraxaci Radix, Angelicae Radix, Cyperi Rhizoma, Moutan Cortex and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, promoted the proliferation of endothelial cells. However, Taraxaci Radix and Angelicae Radix also promoted the growth o f smooth muscle cells, showing inconsistency with the effect of Hokoei -to as a whole.