OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Xuesetong Soft Capsules(血塞通软胶囊,Notoginseng total saponin) on angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium of rats with myocardial infarction.METHODS:The left coronary artery of rats was ligated to establish the animal model of acute myocardial infarction.Rats were randomly divided into Xuesetong Soft Capsule,Shexiangbaoxin Pill(positive control),model(negative control) and sham operation groups.After 6 weeks,microvessel count(MVC),microvessel density(MVD) and VEGF mRNA expressioninischemicmyoc ardium were evaluated.RESULTS:MVC and MVD in the myocardial infarct border area in model,Shexiangbaoxin Pill and Xuesetong Soft Capsule groups significantly increased compared with those of the sham operation group(P0.05).The model group showed signifi-cantly higher VEGF mRNA expression than that in the sham operation group(P0.05).CONCLUSION:Xuesetong Soft Capsules promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium after myocardial infarction and the mechanism may be associated withVEGF mRNA expression.