Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of Mudan Granule on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant responsive element (ARE) signaling pathway and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human vascular endothelial cells under high-glucose environment. Methods A total of 30 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, and Mudan Granule group, with 10 rats in each group, and the drug-containing serum was prepared. In the normal group, the drug-containing serum was added to the endothelial cells cultured at a normal glucose concentration, and in the model group and the Mudan Granule group, the drug-containing serum was added to the endothelial cells cultured at a high glucose concentration. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and ELISA was used to measure the content of VEGF in the supernatant of each group. Results Compared with the normal group, the model group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05) and the content of VEGF (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the Mudan Granule group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05) and a significant reduction in the content of VEGF (P<0.05). Conclusion Mudan Granule exerts a protective effect on human vascular endothelial cells under high-glucose environment, possibly by upregulating the expression of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and reducing the content of VEGF.