Modified Taohong Siwu Decoction Improved Cardiac Function after Myocardial Infarction by Activating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Introduction: Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD), a traditional prescription for enhancing blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis, primarily comprises peach kernel, safflower, angelica, chuanxiong, and rehmannia. Modified Taohong Siwu decoction (MTHSWD), an advanced version of THSWD, incorporates additional ingredients such as epimedium, cinnamon, and salvia miltiorrhiza. This addition serves to augment its efficacy in warming yang and promoting blood circulation. MTHSWD has excellent heart protection in cardiac damage, which indicates a promising application prospect. However, the mechanisms are yet unclear. Methods: In this study, network pharmacology and molecular docking studies demonstrated that the effects of MTHSWD may be significantly influenced by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In addition, to verify this mechanism, three groups were divided and randomly selected from among the 35 Sprague-Dawley rats: Myocardial infarction (MI) group, THSWD group, and MTHSWD group. Results: MTHSWD greatly improved fractional shortening as well as ejection fraction and reduced the infarct size. MTHSWD attenuated cell apoptosis by activating the Akt pathway in infarcted areas. In vitro, the cytoprotective effects of MTHSWD on H9C2 cells were significantly attenuated when PI3K/Akt was inhibited. Conclusion: Therefore, the study found that MTHSWD had a positive effect on heart function after myocardial infarction by activating the Akt pathway.