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Objective: To investigate the effects of panax notoginseng saponins on mobilizing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after cerebral infarction so as to provide experimental basis for Huoxue Huayu Decoction (HXHYD) that is promoting the blood flow and removing blood stasis. Methods: Apart from the normal group, all of the remaining rats must survive the improved Zea-Longa middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) modeling method; all standard rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group designated as control group was administered with normal saline by gavage every day. The second, third and fourth groups designated as drug groups were administered respectively with Xuesaitong soft Capsule (ingredients dissolved in normal saline) in 20, 40 and 60 mg/ml body weight/day (low-dose group, mid-dose group and high-dose group). The treatment continued for 28 days. Each group was then divided into subgroups (each subgroup contains at least 8 rats) determined by time points (1st day 3rd day 7th day 14th day and 28th day). Changes of CD54, CD106, CD105, CD117 in blood and bone marrow of rats were detected by FCM. The SCF level at different time points were determined though ELISA methods. Results: The stem cell factor (SCF) level in peripheral blood and bone marrow showed a significant increase in the control group and the treated group. The SCF in peripheral blood and bone marrow increased on the 1st day and reached a peak on the 14th day, then decreased in the peripheral blood gradually. The SCF level in peripheral blood showed a better increase in both medium-dose and high-dose groups than that of model group (p 0.05) between the lowdose group and the control group at each time point. Conclusion: PNS can mobilize the BMSCs to improve the levels in the peripheral blood.

After cerebral ischemia, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are mobilized and travel from the bone marrow through peripheral circulation to the focal point of ischemia to initiate tissue regeneration. However, the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells mobilized into peripheral circulation is not enough to exert therapeutic effects, and the method by which blood circulation is promoted to remove blood stasis influences stem cell homing. The main ingredient of Xuesaitong capsules is Panax notoginseng saponins, and Xuesaitong is one of the main drugs used for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. We established rat models of cerebral infarction by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and then intragastrically administered Xuesaitong capsules (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg per day) for 28 successive days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that in rats with cerebral infarction, middle- and high-dose Xuesaitong significantly increased the level of stem cell factors and the number of CD117-positive cells in plasma and bone marrow and significantly decreased the number of CD54- and CD106-positive cells in plasma and bone marrow. The effect of low-dose Xuesaitong on these factors was not obvious. These findings demonstrate that middle- and high-dose Xuesaitong and hence Panax notoginseng saponins promote and increase the level and mobilization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in peripheral blood.