Abstract:Aim To observe the protective effects of Angelica sinensis volatile oil (ASVO) on levels of blood lipids and vascular endothelial structure in hyperlipidemia rats. Methods 72 SD rats were randomly assigned to normal control group of 12 and model group of 60. Rats in the model group were fed with high fat diet and 50 mg/kg propylthiouracil by intragastric administration for 4 weeks. The model rats were randomly divided into the model control group, fluvastatin group (0.5 mg/kg), and high-, medium- and low-dosage of ASVO groups (0,0, 15 mg/kg) with 12 rats in each group. After 3 weeks, artery blood was collected and the content of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels and calculated atherosclerosis index (AI) were measured, the contents of endothelin-1(ET-1) in plasma, nitric oxide(NO) in serum and von willebrand factor(vWF) in plasma were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thoracic aorta was separated, 10% formalin-fixed and parrffin-embedded, cut into slice, HE stained and the vascular endothelial structure was observed under light endothelial structure. Results Compared with control group, the content of TC, TG and LDLC in plasma significantly increased (P<0.05), the content of ET-1 and vWF in plasma significantly increased, the content of NO in the serum significantly decreased in hyperlipidemia model group (P<0.05). The content of TC and LDLC in plasma significantly decreased (P<0.05), the content of ET-1 and vWF in plasma significantly decreased, the content of NO in the serum significantly increased in the high and medium dosage of ASVO groups (P<0.05), the structure of the vascular endothelial injury were effectively improved in the high and medium dosage of ASVO groups. Conclusion The certain therapeutic effects of Angelica sinensis volatile oil were determinated in hyperlipidemia rats, and the structure of the vascular endothelial injury was improved.