Study on the mechanism of Yajieyixin formula in improving atherosclerosis

Yajieyixin Formula (YJYXF) is an effective prescription commonly used by Dai medicine practitioners to treat cardiovascular diseases. This study explored how YJYXF helps ApoE mice with atherosclerosis (AS). An atherosclerosis model was established by feeding ApoE mice with a high-fat diet, and treatment with 36.075 g/kg YJYXF and 12.025 g/kg YJYXF for 12 weeks were the optimal treatment conditions for the ankylosis spondylitis mouse model. The mechanism of action of YJYXF against atherosclerosis was comprehensively analyzed by observing the AS-related indexes (blood biochemical indexes, inflammation indexes, TMAO), changes in atherosclerotic plaques observed by HE staining and oil red O staining, liver metabolisms, microbiome, changes in bile acid content, and the expression of key genes and proteins of cholesterol metabolism. The present study showed that YJYXF could lower blood lipid levels, reduce inflammation and aortic plaque accumulation, regulate hepatic lipid metabolism, and regulate bile acid metabolism by modulating the diversity, composition and abundance of intestinal flora, and by decreasing the expression levels of intestinal FXR, FGF-15 mRNA and protein, and by increasing the expression levels of hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA and protein. The study findings that YJYXF can improve AS, and the mechanism is associated with intestinal microbiota regulation by trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).