Anti-angina effect of puerarin and its effect on plasma thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin

Plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin Fl alpha(6-K-PGFl alpha), the stable nonenzymatic metabolites of TXA2 and prostacyclin were assayed in 30 patients suffering from angina pectoris before and after administration of puerarin. In addition, serum lipids and HDL were also measured at the same time. 20 healthy subjects were chosen as the control group. Two weeks before and during administration of puerarin, aspirin, calcium-antagonists, all kinds of hypotensors and drugs relieving chest pain of angina pectoris were strictly prohibited. Puerarin was intravenously given, 500 mg daily for 7 days, which was considered as a therapeutic course. Besides relieving of chest pain, decreasing of heart rate and reduction of blood pressure clinically, it was also found that plasma 6-K-PGFl alpha concentrations were significantly elevated from 38.32 +/- 15.40 to 158. 79 +/- 98.62 pg (P less than 0.01) after administration of puerarin, but there was no significantly difference between plasma TXB2 concentrations before and after administering the drug. In addition, serum HDL was apparently enhanced as compared with that before the administration of puerarin (P less than 0.01). The results indicated that puerarin has the function of anti-angina, reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and diminishing myocardial oxygen consumption.