Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of Puerarin on expression of C-reactive protein(CRP)in iliac artery of atherosclerotic rabbits.Methods Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into the normal control group(n=6,fed on a normal diet),basic control group(n=8,fed on a cholesterol diet)and Puerarin group(n=8,fed on a cholesterol diet).The balloon injury of iliac arteries was performed in animals of the basic control group and Puerarin group,and the animals of the Puerarin group were injected with Puerarin(25 mg/kg/d per rabbit)after injury.Four weeks after balloon injury,untreated and balloon injury iliac arteries were harvested for immunocytochemical staining.The mRNA and protein expression of CRP were tested by RT-PCR and immunucytochemistry.Results The mRNA and expression of CRP in atheroseclerotic plaque of iliac artery in the Puerarin group was significantly lower than that in the basic control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Puerarin can make atheroseclerotic plaque stable by regulating of the expression of CRP in iliac artery of atherosclerotic rabbit.

Key words: Puerarin, atherosclerosis, C-reactive protein