Objective To explore the possible mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction in the treatment of heart failure.Methods Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group

model group

and low

middle and high dose Zhenwu Decoction groups

with 10 rats in each group. All groups except for sham operation group were built heart failure models by ligating abdominal aortic. Low

middle and high dose Zhenwu Decoction groups were given 6

12 and 18 g/（ kg·d） of Zhenwu Decoction by gavage

respectively

while sham operation group and model group were given 3 ml of distilled water by gavage

respectively

once a day for 28 days. After treatment

high frequency echocardiography was performed for each group to measure left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole（ LVIDD）

left ventricular end-systolic dimension（ LVESD）

left ventricular ejection fraction（ LVEF） and left ventricular fractional shortening（ FS） of rats. Myocardial apoptosis index was tested and calculated in each group by TUNEL method. Expressions of collagen typeⅠ（ ColⅠ） and Ⅲ（ ColⅢ） in myocardium were tested in each group by ELISA method. Expressions of mRNA of periostin

transforming growth factor beta 1（ TGF-β1）

Glucose regulated protein 78（ GRP78） and C/EBP homologous protein（ CHOP） in myocardium were tested in each group by Realtime PCR method. Protein expression levels of periostin

TGF-β1

GRP78 and CHOP in myocardium were tested in each group by Western blot method. Results Compared with those in the model group

all indicators by cardiac ultrasound and degree of myocardial fibrosis were obviously improved

myocardial apoptosis were obviously decreased

expression levels of Col I

Col III

myocardial periostin

TGF-β1

GRP78

CHOP and mRNA were obviously decreased in low

middle and high dose Zhenwu Decoction groups

especially the improvement in high dose Zhenwu Decoction group（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion Zhenwu Decoction could improve ventricular remodeling in heart failure rats

decrease myocardial apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. This may be one of mechanisms of Zhenwu Decoction in treating heart failure.