Glucose endothelial cytotoxicity and protection by Dan Gua-Fang, a Chinese herb prescription in huVEC in hyperglycemia medium

Abstract Background Low success rate of blood glucose in diabetes is an international problem. The endothelia cytotoxicity of hyperglycemia has been widely accepted. However, it has not been seen in reports of the value of concentration of high glucose beginning to produce cytotoxicity and the relationship between hyperglycemia and cytotoxicity as well as how to effectively prevent and control hyperglycemia cytotoxicity. Dan Gua prescription is an effective Chinese herb prescription for diabetic vascular complications. Methods Dan Gua prescription was contained in Dan Gua liquor utilized in experiments. (1) The cytotoxicity experiment of Dan Gua was carried out with M199 medium whose glucose (Glu) was 5.55 mmol/l to seek for a suitable experimental concentration of Dan Gua. (2) The human vessel endotheliocyte was cultivated for 72 h with mediums containing glucose in different concentrations (Group G1 to Group G11, Glu: 5.5 to 99.9 mmol/l, respectively), and assayed an optical density (OD) value using the 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide method. (3) Experiment 2 was repeated. However, the medium of each group (Groups Y1 to Y11) contained Dan Gua liquor whose concentration was 1/300. Results There was a negative correlation between means of cell OD values and glucose concentrations ( r =−.927, R 2 =.844), and it presented a notable linear correlation ( y =0.681−0.002 x ). Based on the OD value of 5.5-mmol/l glucose concentration (group G1), when glucose concentration reached 22.2 mmol/l (G4), the difference in OD values has a statistical significance. OD values in Y1–Y11 were not less than that of G1. Conclusion There is a notable linear correlation between the endothelial cytotoxicities of Glu and its concentrations. The spinodal point concentration of statistical significance of hyperglycemia cytotoxicity is 22.2 mmol/l; 1/300 Dan Gua can reverse the endothelia cytotoxicity in different concentrations of hyperglycemia.