Abstract: Pseudoprotodioscinis the main active compound of Di’aoXinXue Kang capsules.To explore the effect of pseudoprotodioscin on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression induced by OX-LDL in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC),HUVEC cells were cultured in vitro. After pretreatment with different concentrations of pseudoprotodioscin for 24 h,OX-LDL was added for the induction of COX-2 expression.The expressions of COX-2 mRNA was detected by Real-time PCR,and the expression of COX-2 protein and the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) associated with COX-2 inflammatory signaling pathway were determined by Western blot.Our results showed that pseudoprotodioscin can inhibit OX-LDL-induced COX-2 expression in HUVEC dose-dependently,and inhibit TLR2 expression and p38MAPK activity.These results indicated that pseudoprodioscininhibited OX-LDL-induced COX-2 expression possibly via affecting the TLR2 / p38MAPK pathway,suggesting its anti-inflammatory effect on vein endothelial cells.

Key words: Pseudoprotodioscin, OX-LDL, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, cyclooxygenase-2, TLR2/P38MAPK pathway