Objective: To assess the effect of Xinmaitong (XMT) capsule in treating coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods: The 38 patients of coronary heart disease with myocardial ischemia were divided randomly into XMT group (20 cases) and control group (18 cases). Conventional western medical therapy was given to both groups and the XMT group received XMT treatment in addition. The changes of endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels

ST segment of ECG and clinical symptoms after treatment in all the patients were observed. 14 healthy persons were taken as normal control.Results: The ET level of all patients was significantly higher than that of normal control (P < 0. 001)

and level of CGRP in patients was not significantly different from normal (P > 0. 05). After treatment

results showed that: (1) The ET levels and the scores of clinical symptoms of both groups decreased significantly (P < 0. 01)

and the depressed ST segment elevated markedly (P < 0.01) as compared with that before treatment

and the changes revealed more evidently in XMT group in comparison with those in the control group (P < 0. 05~0. 01). (2) The level of CGRP was significantly increased in XMT group (P < 0. 01) while it was unchanged in the control group (P > 0. 05).Conclusion: Thereis a severs damage of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) in patients of coronary heart disease. XMT could not only reduce significantly the plasma ET content

but also enhance markesdly the production and release of CGRP

so it has a good anti-ischemic effect

which may be closely correlated with its action on improving the function of VEC and regulating metabolism of ET and CGRP.